PORR-led consortium secures contract for Austria’s biggest tunnelling project

A consortium led by Vienna-based PORR and its Salzburg-based subsidiary Hinteregger has secured a new €1bn contract for the construction of Austria’s largest ever tunnelling project.

The contract will require the consortium to construct the H51 Pfons-Brenner lot, an 18km stretch of the Brenner Base Tunnel project that in total will extend to a length of 64km, connecting Italy and Austria.

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“To be charged with building the largest tunnelling project in Austria is a sign of how highly valued our expertise is,” said PORR CEO Karl-Heinz Strauss. “The scope of the project, the changeable geological conditions and the limited space constraints of the construction site all represent considerable challenges.”

The construction phase of lot H51 will involve the building of two tunnel tubes between Pfons and Brenner that combined will stretch 9km, with up to 30metres to be driven per day with tunnel boring machines at a diameter of 10.37metres.

“On highly demanding, large-scale projects such as the “Green Line” metro in Doha, we have proven that we are capable of mastering exceptionally complex tasks within the promised time and quality – and on budget,” Strauss said. “This certainly worked in our favour in the award process for the Brenner Base Tunnel.”

Completion of the project is forecast for 2024.