A toll gantry made from local and renewable resources has been introduced in Austria that could help pave the way for more sustainable road infrastructure.
Developed by Kapsch TrafficCom, the so-called ‘Green Gantry’ is made of Austrian wood and binds more than 20 tonnes of CO2, which means it has a positive carbon footprint – unlike traditional steel and aluminium gantries that, on average, reportedly cause more than 30 tonnes of CO2 during their production.
The project is being funded by the Waldfonds, an initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and water Management and is being carried out as part of the Think.Wood programme of the Austrian Wood initiative.
Compliant with all relevant European standards, Kapsch has guaranteed a lifespan of more than 20 years due to the gantry’s constructive wood protection, which reportedly makes it resistant to environmental impacts from water, ice and snow.
What’s more, according to Kapsch, no harmful chemical substances have used to treat the wood, which means the gantry does not pollute the environment after it is dismantled.
And despite its choice of material, Kapsch claims the solution is competitive with more traditional offerings. A modular design reportedly allows for an installation comparable to standard steel bridges while also offering the same service life and levels of maintenance.
”Our road infrastructure is currently a blind spot in efforts to make the transport sector more sustainable,” said Katharina Rynesch, innovation manager at Kapsch TrafficCom.
“With our Green Gantry, we hope on the one hand to contribute to greater sustainability, but on the other hand also to demonstrate that even concepts that have been established for many years can be rethought and made sustainable.
You can learn more about the key trends and challenges affecting senior decision-makers who have responsibility for tolling, intelligent transportation systems and road pricing across the world at the 20th annual Road User Charging Conference in Brussels, Belgium on 07-08 March 2023. Click here for more information.
