After some delays and quarrels, the first project of the Linz “tree planting offensive” was completed today. A plane tree, an elm and 23 field maple trees were planted in the Kroatengasse. In just a few years, they should cool the west side of the street. “The trees need about three years until they really arrive and are rooted,” says Werner Münzker from the City Green and Road Maintenance division. The plane tree will grow two meters a year, the field maples one meter and the elm a little less. “With the project in Kroatengasse we are breaking new ground in climate adaptation, because this is where we as a city are implementing a larger project according to the sponge city principle for the first time,” says City Councilor Eva Schobesberger (Greens).
The sponge city principle
Sponge City means that the trees get a much larger road base than before. Coarse stones as a base store a multiple of water, which is conducted from the surface to the roots. This “sponge” is intended to ensure healthy root growth, which is needed to develop a shady crown. At the same time, flooding during heavy rain events is reduced or prevented.
Extensive preliminary work
Prior to this, LinzAG renewed old water pipes over the course of the summer. In the course of the renovation work, Linz AG also carried out empty piping to enable charging points or charging zones for electric vehicles.
Project delays
As reported, 50 trees were originally planned on both sides of the street. However, 10 kV lines that were not taken into account in the planning and communication problems between the responsible departments led to the reduction and a delay.
Greening of the town hall district
The finalization phase is also in the town hall district, the second scene of the tree planting offensive. “It was a relatively complex construction site with many holes throughout the area,” says Schobesberger. A kind of “sponge city light” is used there. Otherwise you would have had to open the whole square. But there, too, the approximately 50 trees will have plenty of room to take root. They should be set this year.
Next stage in the Neustadtviertel
Next up is the Neustadtviertel. The planning work for this is currently being tendered. However, as a first step, the focus is on east-west connections. The north-south axes, such as the often mentioned Schubertstrasse, will have to wait because no one wants to anticipate the current traffic plans. As reported, Schubertstraße is to be expanded into a cycle highway.
Source: Nachrichten
