The B10 federal highway in Germany stretches for an impressive 300 kilometers and connects Bavaria with Saarland, forming a crucial east-west transport axis in this region. As one of the most important transport links in Germany, a planning process is currently underway to upgrade it to a four-lane road.

The section in Baden-Württemberg in particular is affected by considerable traffic volumes and the resulting congestion. For this reason, noise protection is of central importance. A pioneering measure was implemented in November 2021: The installation of a PHONOBLOC® DB NBF system on the B10 in Zuffenhausen, north of Stuttgart. Specially integrated noise barriers with the tried-and-tested PHONOBLOC® DB 100 NBF and HB WAVEline absorbers were installed over a length of more than 600 meters to protect residents from the impact of traffic noise.

This outstanding project is characterized not only by its effectiveness in noise reduction, but also by special solutions such as an emergency exit and the integration of a radar box. We are proud to have made a contribution to improving the quality of life along the B10 and will continue to use our expertise in noise protection technology to make such projects even more efficient and innovative.

Europe’s highest fish migration aid is currently located in south-eastern Carinthia, with an impressive height difference of 21 meters. These fish migration aids are of particular importance for the Drau, as they support medium-distance migrants such as the nase and barbel, which undertake extensive spawning migrations upstream. Even the largest fish species in the Drau, the Huchen and the catfish, with a length of over one meter, master the fish migration aid without any problems.

For more than a decade, the noise protection technology of Kirchdorfer Concrete Solutions noise barriers (“LSW”) has been revolutionizing the world of noise protection and significantly improving the quality of life of local residents. In the summer of 2021, Austria’s highest noise barrier was installed on the A2 Südautobahn in the Wiener Neudorf section, rising an impressive 13 meters into the air.

This impressive project stretches over 1.2 kilometers and was realized by the renowned company HABAU on behalf of ASFINAG. The lower half of the noise barrier consists of precast concrete elements with a wood-concrete cladding. In addition, further Phonobloc® wood-concrete LSW elements with the coveted natureplus® environmental seal of approval are installed between the supports. In this way, the Austrian highway operator is relying on sustainable wood-concrete technology that also provides highly effective noise protection for more than 5,000 local residents.

The in-situ measurements carried out by ASFINAG confirm that the highest requirements for sound reflection and airborne sound insulation are met. Over the years, Kirchdorfer’s successful noise protection portfolio has evolved from a conventional mineral variant made of porous lightweight concrete to an ecologically sustainable wood-concrete standard in various surface designs. In 2017, the Kirchdorfer Group received its first approval for use on high-speed railroad lines in Austria and Germany.

With the space-saving integration of DELTABLOC® concrete crash barriers, the Kirchdorf noise barrier also sets standards in terms of traffic safety.

The Kirchdorfer Group is expanding its product range and taking a pioneering step towards ecological traffic route infrastructure. The PHONOBLOC® wood-concrete noise barriers, which have been awarded the natureplus® seal of approval, are now being fitted with photovoltaic panels, opening a new chapter in the ecological design of Austrian traffic route infrastructure.

The solar power generated by this product aims to offset all the energy used in the production, transportation and installation of the “noise barrier power plant” after just two years of operation.

By installing PV panels (glass foil) on the upper Y-shaped element, an annual yield of 1,173 kWh/kWp can be expected at a utilization rate of 90%, whereby 1 kWp corresponds to a generator area of around 4.85 m². This leads to an annual CO2 saving of 325.4 kg/kWp*.

The Kirchdorfer Group enables the efficient use of existing noise protection infrastructure and the retrofitting of existing noise barriers. With a specially developed Y-shaped element, which is used instead of the uppermost noise protection element, and a substructure adapted to the location, the photovoltaic panels can be optimally aligned against the sun and at the same time protected from local wind and snow loads, as Klaus Aichholzer, KCS Business Unit Manager Road, explains.

With the installation of PHONOBLOC® wood-concrete noise barriers, Kirchdorfer Concrete Solutions is leading the way in the expansion of infrastructure along roads and railways. With the development of the Y-shaped element, existing noise barriers can also be retrofitted for the installation of PV panels “on top” by simply replacing the uppermost standard noise barrier element.

Have you heard of the “Koralmbahn project of the century”? A fast and safe connection between Styria and Carinthia: This is what the Koralm Railway creates. It is part of the new southern line in Austria and one of the most important infrastructure projects in Europe. What began as a pipe dream in 1968 is now a reality. And we as the Kirchdorfer Group are part of it. We are supplying the foundations that will transport ÖBB guests from Graz to Klagenfurt, among other places, in the future.

With an order volume of 20,000 track support plates – incidentally one of the largest orders in our company’s history – we are also making history! The 33 km long Koralm Tunnel is one of the most spectacular structures in the world. Several thousand people and three gigantic tunnel boring machines set several records here.

With a total length of 64 km, the joint Austrian-Italian project is set to become the longest underground rail link in the world by 2026. Base segments and cover plates were produced for 15 km of exploratory and drainage tunnels.

The Styrian municipality of Radmer an der Stube, to the east of the Gesäuse National Park, now has a safe excursion destination thanks to a rockfall protection system from RAUTER that is unique in Austria. The “Steinerne Jungfrau” had previously caused repeated closures due to the risk of falling rocks. The Styrian provincial government invested 2 million euros to eliminate this risk. RAUTER supplied 28 tons of special prefabricated parts, including 15 gigantic columns and 2-metre-high prefabricated walls, to effectively protect the 120-metre-long road. The production of these unique columns was an unusual challenge, which RAUTER, as an Austrian specialist for special precast parts, successfully met.