Citizens rejoice

S7: New lifeline brings the hoped-for calm

The S7 was opened to traffic on March 23. The expressway runs from the A2 at the Riegersdorf junction to Dobersdorf. From 2025, it will continue to the national border.(Bild: Schulter Christian)

Two weeks after the expressway was opened to traffic, it is clear that the masses of trucks have disappeared from the Lafnitz Valley. For the residents, this means a huge plus in terms of quality of life. 

The approximately 15-kilometre-long western section of eastern Austria's controversial expressway, the S7, has been open to traffic for two weeks now. Cursed by many until its opening, mainly due to nature conservation concerns, the new lifeline has brought the residents of the Lafnitz Valley the long-awaited traffic relief and thus a better quality of life. In particular, truck traffic through the villages of Deutsch Kaltenbrunn and Rudersdorf has decreased enormously with the opening of the expressway.

HGV traffic has decreased drastically and this naturally has a positive effect on the quality of life.

Bernhard Pranger, Gastronom

Bild: Christian schulter

Problems with the traffic guidance system are noticeable
However, it is also clear that cars are still looking for a way through the Lafnitz Valley, says restaurateur Bernhard Pranger. He sees the main reasons for this in the fact that "many Hungarian drivers do not want to buy a vignette and also because the guidance system is not yet working". The new expressway will not have a negative impact on his hospitality industry, but "once the road has been completed to the state border, the economy will certainly notice," says Pranger.

You can already see that there is much less traffic in the village. Truck traffic in particular has decreased enormously.

Martin Luisser, Tankstellenbetreiber

Bild: Christian Schulter

Intermunicipal business park to create jobs
Speaking of the economy: an upturn and new jobs are also expected in the coming years from the inter-municipal business park at the S7 junction Rudersdorf/Deutsch Kaltenbrunn, which is to have an area of around 25 hectares when fully developed and in which the Burgenland Business Agency and all twelve municipalities of the Jennersdorf district are involved. According to the business agency, there is a great deal of interest in setting up businesses here.

We are noticing that there is less lunchtime business in particular. Our great hope is that tourists will now come more often.

Elisabeth Montefusco, Gastronomin

Bild: Christian Schulter

Eastern section and highway police station to open in 2025
Construction of a freeway police station is also currently underway in the Rudersdorf area. Completion is scheduled for 2025. The eastern section of the expressway, which leads to the Hungarian border near Heiligenkreuz, will then also be opened to traffic. ASFINAG estimates the total investment for the S7 at around 900 million euros, around two thirds of which will be spent on the western section.