Feldkirch flood protection project costs rise to €28 million

Feldkirch’s flood protection project will open earlier than planned at the end of September, but its total cost has risen by one third to €28 million, ORF reports. The project’s main elements are the widening of the Kapfschlucht gorge and the complete replacement of the Montfort Bridge.

The old bridge was completely demolished. To protect Feldkirch’s old town from a once in a century flood, the new bridge was raised by about one metre and the water flow capacity was increased to 820 cubic metres per second.

Wolfgang Errath of the Ill Walgau Water Association, which is responsible for the project, said the cost increase was caused by high inflation between 2021 and 2024 as well as unforeseen work during the demolition and the gorge construction.

“The actual construction increases accounted for around five per cent of the total estimated costs. The rest was indexation caused by economic developments over the years,” Errath said.