This year, two major construction sites in Mur metropolis will be completed. Until then, there are still some traffic jams we have to get through. A long-term project also irritates cyclists and pedestrians.
There is currently a winter break at the most prominent road construction site in Graz, for the new tram line through the city center. While everything is largely finished on the east side of the Mur, work on the other side, at the connection to Annenstrasse, will soon continue. This is completely closed in the affected area from the end of May to September, including for trams. At the end of November the time has finally come: after almost three years of construction, the new Bim line will go into operation.
The second major construction site on the “open heart”, which is especially annoying for drivers, is the renovation and redesign of Elisabethstrasse. There is also a break here at the moment; The first part should be ready by mid-May. The second, going out of town, will be completed in November. Until then, only one lane will remain open in each direction.
Long procedures as a test of patience
A continuing nuisance for cyclists and pedestrians is the closure of the Pongratz-Moore pedestrian bridge, which connects the Andritz and Gösting districts over the Mur. The bridge has been closed since July 2023 due to safety deficiencies and needs to be rebuilt. Many people in Graz wonder why it is taking so long. “I am aware that the long closure is a major challenge for everyone,” says municipal councilor Judith Schwentner of Groen Transport. But you also have to recognize that “we live in a constitutional state and there are processes and procedures that take time and drag on.”
Due to the length of the route and the difficult planning given the limited space and the many cables running over the footbridge, construction will not start until the end of 2025 at the earliest. The new walkway must then be almost three times as wide as the current walkway.
Patience is also required in Peter-Tunner-Gasse, where the ÖBB is renovating the railway underpass and the city is building new cycle paths and sidewalks. We are on schedule and traffic should flow again from June 2026.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
