The “Integrated River Engineering Project on the Danube to the East of Vienna” is a comprehensive project that integrates several aspects

• to improve fairway conditions on the east of Vienna
• by taking river engineering measures (riverbed adjustments and regulating structures such as groynes and guide dykes) – without weirs, and

• by taking into account the ecological needs of the National Park Donau-Auen.

TEN-T MIP funded

• Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology

• Consortium „Arbeitsgemeinschaft Integratives Donauprojekt in Österreich“ (ARGE ID.at)

• Diverse subcontractors

Planning, pilot tests and implementation of total route: approx. € 200mn (index 2006)

Start of planning: 2002 Start of construction for total route: projected for end of 2009 Details: 1. Installation of an interdisciplinary steering committee Period: End of 2001 2. Examination of alternatives and variants Period: 2002 to mid-2004 3. Moderation procedures to involve the public Period: mid-2003 to mid-2004 4. Preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment Certificate Period: End of 2004 to beginning of 2006 5. Execution of Environmental Impact Assessment Beginning of 2006 to projected end in the first quarter of 2009 6. Execution of experiments Period: Beginning of 2004 to mid 2008 (projected) 7. Execution of 1:1 pilot tests Period: since end of 2007 8. Execution of principal work Period: Projected start of construction of total route: at the end of 2009

The free flowing section of the Danube between Vienna (Freudenau power plant) and the Austrian-Slovak border (river-km 1921.0 – 1872.70) is one of the current weak spots for inland navigation and is characterized by the steady riverbed erosion of 2 to 3.5 cm per year.

On the one hand, the reliability and competitiveness of waterway navigation is restricted in this section of the Danube by too low and strongly fluctuating water depth conditions over the course of the year, and on the other hand, the continuous deepening of the Danube riverbed will result in the sustained deterioration of the ecological balance of the National Park Donau-Auen.

The Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology and via donau – Österreichische Wasserstraßen-Gesellschaft mbH have therefore launched the “Integrated River Engineering Project Danube East of Vienna” for the purpose of improving waterway conditions and eliminating the ecological deficits in this section of the <st1:place w:st="on">Danube</st1:place>.

The “Integrated River Engineering Project Danube East of Vienna” is an important step towards mastering the growing volumes of traffic along the Danube corridor in an environmentally and socially compatible manner, and project’s comprehensive interdisciplinary approach allows it to serve as a model for the elimination of similar weak spots along the <st1:place w:st="on">Danube</st1:place>.

via donau was charged with the planning and implementation of the “Integrated River Engineering Project Danube East of Vienna” by the Austrian Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology. The principal tasks in this context are:

• Project management and project coordination
• Handling of all official procedures, including the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Certificate, submittal of the project for the Environmental Impact Assessment and carrying out the Environmental Impact Assessment as a project applicant
• Handling of the EU co-financing within the scope of the TEN-T MIP Programme
• Steering the development and execution of the experiments and of the pilot projects
• Coordination of the preparatory work for the scientific programme to accompany the project with respect to the hydro-morphological and ecological aspects
• Presentations to disseminate the project at the national and international (experts) level

• Organization and execution of information events to ensure the continuous information of the public, the media, the press and policymakers

Christian Schramm
+43 (0) 504321 2610
christian.schramm   via-donau.org

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