Image of the proposed new district (source: aspern-seestadt.at)

Practice

In the road infrastructure system of the Vienna agglomeration, there was one missing link on the eastern side of the city. After studying different alternatives, the decision was taken to create the link by constructing the Lobautunnel. This tunnel passes under the river Danube and the Lobau park. North of the park the tunnel comes to the surface. Here, a connection to the local road system is foreseen. The construction of this link and the connection to the local system give a strong impulse to the accessibility of the Aspern location. For a long time this former airport site was abandoned. Now, with the realization of the road link, an ambitious plan has been developed for the site, called Vienna’s Urban Lakeside.

Vienna’s Urban Lakeside (surface 240 hectares) is the largest city construction site in Vienna and one of the largest urban development projects in Europe. In 30 minutes, the two city centres of Vienna and Bratislava, but also their international airports and railway stations are accessible. At the centre of the booming Centrope region unique site locations for companies interested in Centrope markets and the new EU member countries arise. The centre piece of the new district is the large marine park in the centre, which reflects the quality of life in Vienna. The site will be developed on basis of the smart city concept. As a first step, to give an impetus to the development of the site, the metroline U2 has been realized.

Issues

Corridor level:
Positioning the site as part of the international infrastructure system (networks);		Optimal value capturing on the site by attracting international orientated companies (value).
Regional / DUS level:
ASFINAG, the infrastructure provider, is increasingly confronted with projects and measures in the interests of other (third) parties. Especially interchanges often cited as a ‘magnet’ for extensive business relocations. Provision of infrastructure implicates a significant rise of values in land use creation, but no adequate benefits for the infrastructure provider (value, implementation).
Local level:
The realization of eco friendly mobility first, like: public transport connections, privileged bike and walking paths, bike garages, carsharing, e-bikes, intermodal transport schemes, city of short distances, shared space, neighbourhood garages, the reduction of parking lots, short term parking zones, park-and-ride facilities, kiss-and-ride facilities and bike-and-ride facilities (network).

Aerial view of the construction site (source: aspern-seestadt.at)