Höttinger Bach protection project begins in Innsbruck

Construction has begun on a 2.8 million euro debris deposition basin intended to protect Innsbruck’s Hötting district from flooding and mudflows, ORF reported. The torrent and avalanche control service is carrying out the work, which is scheduled for completion in 2028.

At Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony, Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig said the Höttinger Bach, known as a dangerous mountain stream for centuries, had become an even greater risk because of climate change and settlement pressure.

Currently, 111 homes lie in the red hazard zone and 326 in the yellow hazard zone around the stream. Tyrol Deputy Governor Josef Geisler said natural hazards could not be prevented, but measures could reduce the damage they cause. Innsbruck Mayor Johannes Anzengruber said the protection structures were intended to provide noticeable improvements in safety.

The debris deposition basin will form the project’s first level of protection. It is designed to hold back rubble, gravel and timber and will provide the basis for a retention basin planned by 2040.

The wider project also includes a flood retention facility with a capacity of about 41,600 cubic metres, the renovation of the lower channel and erosion-control measures in the upper reaches. Another construction phase will add a cable barrier to retain driftwood.

The structures are designed for rare extreme events and are intended to protect the many buildings in the hazard zones. Earthworks are already under way and access roads are being built. Concrete work on the barrier’s foundation is due to begin in the coming weeks.

The overall project is scheduled for completion in 2040 and will cost 21.2 million euros.