Without cobblestones

Michaelerplatz is now rumble-free

City Councillor Ulli Sima and District Head Markus Figl broke ground.(Bild: Martin Jöchl)

The historic square in the old town will no longer have cobblestones.

The redesign has been long awaited. Now the time has come - after years of planning and discussion, the renovation of Michaelerplatz in the inner city has begun. Famous for its historic architecture such as the Looshaus, St. Michael's Church and the Hofburg Palace, the redesign of this historic site poses particular challenges: Keyword monument protection, and keeping important visual axes free.

Michaelerplatz in the city center is a place with a lot of history and is now being redesigned.(Bild: (c) ZOOMVP.AT)

Planning Councillor Ulli Sima (SPÖ) and District Head Markus Figl (ÖVP) broke ground for the construction work on Monday. With nine trees specially adapted to the location, unsealing with grass beds, more traffic calming and seating, the circular square is to become a place to relax. The bumpy surface is also history. A barrier-free surface made of natural stone is being installed. Motorized traffic will be guided from Herrengasse to Reitschulgasse by a one-way system. The remaining area will become a meeting zone.

New drainage system to solve odor problem
The archaeological excavations will remain and will also be restored, and the hackney carriages were also an issue.

In future, there will only be four stands here. A further ten stands will be located in Schauflergasse. Granite trough stones and an appropriate arrangement of the inlet shafts will also ensure that waste water is drained away efficiently. To prevent unpleasant odors. The work should be completed by the end of the year