We expand, renovate, repair, and modernize. Our construction program is packed with well-thought-out plans. To ensure everything is completed within the planned timeframe, we also work during the summer.

There are additional reasons for summer construction sites:

• The main construction period for sites runs from April to October, as favorable weather conditions prevail during this time.
• Certain tasks can only be performed in warm temperatures and dry weather.
• Comprehensive renovations of large structures, such as bridges, require a construction period of at least six months, making a summer interruption impossible.
• In urban areas, summer months are the best time for traffic, as commuter traffic is significantly reduced, resulting in fewer disruptions caused by construction sites.
• Large-scale projects with construction and safety-related necessities are also continued during the summer to keep the overall construction duration as short as possible.

Active work is being carried out on every construction site, but workers are not always visible. This is entirely normal and can be easily explained:

• In tunnels, we often build and renovate behind the tunnel walls.
• We frequently work away from the roadway.
• Many tasks are now performed by large machines, requiring fewer personnel.
• Sometimes, materials need time to dry. For example, concrete requires time to cure before it can bear loads after being applied. The same applies to asphalt and marking work.
• Noise-intensive work must be paused at certain times to protect nearby residents.
• Bridges set the pace. Open areas have shorter construction times than bridges, so workers may not always be required. On sections with many bridges, workers are often "invisible" as they work underneath the bridge.
• On sections with high traffic volumes and limited space, much of the work must be done at night, as lane closures are necessary to transport materials to and from the site. In such cases, workers are mostly visible at night, especially in urban areas.
• And if none of the above applies? Then we are probably taking a short break.

If you see few or no workers in a construction section while driving by, it does not mean that work on the site has stopped or is not progressing.

Construction and renovation work ensures that you can travel smoothly in the long term. Well-maintained roads also provide greater safety and comfort during your journey.

Many motorways and expressways were built in stages between 1970 and 2007, with a large portion constructed in the 1980s and 1990s. This means that many sections are aging or will soon require attention. What can be done? Exactly—comprehensive renovations and complete renewals.

Additionally, every motorway and expressway is subject to strict quality and safety standards. Our roads must always comply with the guidelines and regulations for road infrastructure (RVS). Our renovations and maintenance ensure that we consistently meet these stringent standards.

Sometimes, there is no perfect solution. No matter how you approach it, disruptions remain disruptions.

When we renovate, we often do so from one junction to the next. This means the construction site can be up to 10 km long. Our reasoning is comparable to tackling an unpleasant task: better to get it all done at once. This means we prefer to renovate the entire area rather than inconvenience you repeatedly with smaller sections.

Additionally, studies have shown that a construction site length of about 10 km is generally acceptable to drivers and makes more sense than having 2 or 3 consecutive construction sites.

• A longer construction site is more economical than several smaller ones.
• Sometimes, topographical conditions determine the length of a construction site.
• For every construction site, we set up a recycling facility for demolition materials. For longer construction sites, this facility and the materials remain on-site, saving time for construction vehicles as the facility and materials are nearby.

We place great importance on keeping construction times as short as possible.

When driving by, you may not immediately see the full scope of a construction project.

In addition to visible work, such as asphalt paving, we also renovate hidden elements: our drainage system, electromechanical equipment, and more.

If a section contains many bridge structures, this automatically leads to longer construction times, as bridge renovations are more complex and demanding.

At the same time, we must consider other important factors:

• Building materials often require specific conditions for proper installation.
• Some tasks require a dry surface (e.g., markings).
• Concrete needs sufficient time to cure to bear loads.
• Certain tasks can only be completed in a specific sequence.

We understand this frequently expressed wish from road users, but nighttime construction has some less obvious disadvantages:

• Many tasks require daylight for proper execution.
• The time window for nighttime work is very short, usually from 10:00 PM to 5:00 AM. This would extend the overall construction duration.
• Working under traffic conditions is more dangerous for our construction workers at night.
• Nighttime construction is more expensive due to night shift allowances for workers and special permits for truck operations.
• Nearby residents are disturbed by noise when they want to sleep.
• Additionally, for most construction sites, it would not be possible to clear everything away and make the roadway fully accessible during the day. Some areas would remain closed even if no one is working.

We only work at night when the type of work allows it, such as when we can lift closures during the day, and in residential areas only when traffic conditions leave no other option.

It is not always possible to carry out renovations while maintaining all lanes. Each construction zone requires a certain amount of space depending on the type of renovation. To ensure the safety of all road users and the workers in the construction zone, a barrier must be created to separate the construction area from flowing traffic (construction site safety). At the same time, minimum lane widths must be maintained for traffic. This may require closing the emergency lane or, depending on the need, one or more lanes.

We strive to minimize traffic disruptions caused by our construction sites and prevent traffic jams. Therefore, we aim to maintain the number of lanes as much as possible. However, the lanes themselves must be narrowed.

In general, the right lane is 3.25 m wide for trucks, and the second or left lane is 2.75 m wide for cars.

The "2.10 m" marking for the left lane in construction areas means that trucks, buses, and wider cars cannot use it and are therefore not allowed. In reality, the lane marked as 2.10 m is slightly wider. This is necessary to allow two vehicles to drive side by side without "touching."

The length of a barrier depends on several factors:

• Traffic must be safely guided onto and off the construction site before and after the work area. We provide early warnings about the construction site so drivers can adjust to the situation on the road and navigate the site safely.
• Before the actual work area, we always set up a safety zone of at least 100 meters. This ensures worker safety in case a vehicle veers into the construction area.
• Longer barriers are also necessary when work "moves" within a specific section, and relocating the barrier under traffic conditions is difficult, risky, or impossible. This includes minor repair work or mowing.

Speed limits in construction areas must always comply with the guidelines and regulations for road infrastructure (RVS).

• According to these regulations, a speed limit is always required when lanes are reduced.
• Additionally, speed limits protect construction personnel who often work near barriers.
• They also ensure the safety of all road users within the construction traffic management system.

The condition of our roadways, tunnels, and bridges is regularly monitored and inspected.

Based on these inspection results, we plan our medium-term construction projects. Urgent renovations are prioritized, while less critical issues are also addressed.

Thanks to additional observations by our route service, defects are identified and quickly repaired.

A day construction site refers to maintenance work (e.g., mowing, marking, or cleaning) carried out on a section of road that does not exceed 5 km in length.

• Information about ASFINAG’s major projects, sorted by federal state, can be found here.
• Detailed information about active construction sites across Austria is available in the "Construction Site Info" section here.

For questions about ASFINAG construction projects, you can contact the Construction Site Ombudsperson on weekdays:

📞 +43 50108-99399
📧 ombudsperson@asfinag.at

Who can I contact if I have questions about the A 7 / A 26 Linz construction project?
For questions about these two projects, you can contact the A 7 Ombudsperson on weekdays:

📞 +43 664 6010810526
📧 A7-ombudsperson@asfinag.at

For questions about this project, you can contact either the S 7 East Ombudsperson or the S 7 West Ombudsperson:

S 7 East Ombudsperson:
📞 050108/99377
📧 s7-ost_ombudsperson@asfinag.at

S 7 West Ombudsperson:
📞 050108/99388
📧 S7_Ombudsmann@asfinag.at