After their announcement that they would evaluate the Asfinag construction program, Gewessler had to “create clarity”, demanded Brunner in the “press”. Ever since the Ministry of Environment and Transport announced that the new building projects would be examined, including the bypass ring in northeast Vienna including the Lobau tunnel, Gewessler has been facing violent political headwinds from the federal states. On Friday, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (VP) stood at the side of the federal states: “We need a good infrastructure, especially in rural areas,” argued the Chancellor, and he was “very optimistic that common sense will prevail” because it did If it were long-term projects, the matter was clear.
“Federal states were offended”
“The minister’s statements have led to massive uncertainty,” added the Turkish State Secretary Brunner. “The federal states were offended. And the population also expects reliability and clarity from these important projects.” You need “a quick decision on how to proceed,” said Brunner. “The minister has to clarify that.” You need the projects from the Lobau tunnel to the Bodensee motorway.
You can of course question everything, “but above all we need legal certainty,” said Brunner. There are procedures that have already been completed and millions of euros have been invested. “Now everything is in the air. The minister may get involved in a lawsuit lasting years and the population will have to continue to wait for the relief projects.” Brunner believes that “more realism and honesty in the climate debate” are necessary: ”Anyone who says yes to climate protection must also say yes to infrastructure expansion.”
