Kohlberg tunnel enables southern bypass

The first breakthrough is made

15.03.2023

It’s knocking and humming in April 2022. Nothing unusual a little more than two years after the start of construction on Pirna’s Kohlberg Tunnel for the B 172 federal road. Ultimately, the planned tunnel is an essential part of the southern bypass of the district town on the Elbe. It was nevertheless a special moment when the first ray of light made its way through the so-called east portal.

The consortium consisting of AUGUST REINERS Bauunternehmung and BISTRA Bau is responsible for the construction of the 300-metre-long Kohlberg Tunnel and various structures at the two portals. More than 2,200 tonnes of reinforcing steel from SÜLZLE Stahlpartner in Dessau-Roßlau are being used.

The entire Pirna construction project includes four large engineering structures, including the valley bridge over the Gottleuba valley with a length of 916 metres, the Kohlberg tunnel and two other bridges. The 3.8-kilometre-long new road connects the B172a motorway feeder road with the existing B172 in Pirna-Sonnenstein and is intended to relieve the town of Pirna of traffic and congestion and thus also of noise and pollutants. In 2023, the focus will be on upgrading the Kohlberg tunnel, which is already fully breached. This work will continue until 2024.