Drivers spend a good quarter of an hour longer in the morning because traffic is being diverted through parts of the old town due to the bridge closure. The 60-year-old Neumayr Bridge is showing its age and is in urgent need of renovation. 5,000 cars and trucks roll over the bridge every day; The supporting structure and structure now have to be renewed.

This year 2.5 million for bridge renovations

“Most of the bridges in Hallein are in a very bad condition,” said Hallein Mayor Alexander Stangassinger (SPÖ). Two other smaller bridges are also being renovated today, according to the mayor. The city is spending around 2.5 million euros on this. “Of course I would prefer to use this money to renovate schools or kindergartens or build apartments. It is not my wish to rehabilitate one bridge after the other, but it is a necessity,” added Stangassinger.

The rush hours are naturally the problem, around 8.30 a.m. the traffic rolled out of the city again relatively easily. The Neumayr Bridge will remain completely closed until May 9th. Dominik Anzengruber from the Hallein city police therefore recommended doing all the errands that can be done on foot and parking outside the city to avoid the traffic jam.

Renovation should be complete in October

The city of Hallein is responsible for a total of 83 bridges. In September, the Neumayr Bridge will be completely closed again for two weeks, the renovation including widening for a footpath and cycle path should be completed on October 21st.