Altdorf: Station area is being developed
The canton of Uri wants to further develop the area around the Altdorf train station. To this end, the transport infrastructure will first be expanded. Thus, the Eyschachen/Werkmatt development area should also become attractive for investors.
From the point of view of the canton of Uri, the area around the cantonal railway station in Altdorf with the Eyschachen/Werkmatt site is an important development focus on the Uri valley floor. With four sub-projects, the canton, the municipality of Altdorf, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and private investors are now tackling the renewal of the infrastructure at and around Altdorf station.
The canton of Uri is responsible for the construction of the station squares on the west and east sides of the station (subprojects 1 and 2). This includes a bus terminal, road adjustments and infrastructure for Park+Ride.
UKB builds new station building
For the third sub-project, the Cantonal Bank of Uri (UKB) wants to realize a new building at Bahnhofplatz 1 to replace the current station building. The aim is to create a "cantonal station building that is convincing in terms of local planning and architecture and offers attractive services," according to a statement by the cantonal council of Uri.
In the fourth subproject, the SBB and the municipality of Altdorf are involved in the adaptation of the SBB public facilities, in particular for the extension of the railroad pier and for the extension of the passenger underpass to the west side. In addition, various private actors have more or less advanced construction projects in planning in the area of the station.
Investments of up to 60 million
In total, the sum of the necessary investments amounts to CHF 55 to 60 million. SBB is bearing the lion's share of this, investing over 40 million in the extension of the railroad pier alone. Construction work around Altdorf station is expected to start at the end of 2019. Construction will take around two years, and the new cantonal station should be ready for operation by the end of 2021.
The station in Altdorf is gaining in importance because, since the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel at the end of 2016, high-speed trains also stop in the canton of Uri. From the end of 2021, the SBB will again expand the rail service and then offer eight IC stops per day and direction from the cantonal station in Altdorf. The cantonal station is therefore to be developed into a public transport hub. The SBB trains, the bus lines of the Auto AG and the Postauto AG as well as the Tellbus and the Winkelriedbus converge here.
Eyschachen development moves forward
The canton of Uri also hopes that the expansion of the train station will make the neighboring Eyschachen development area (now called "Werkmatt") more attractive for investors and companies. The area - one of the last large, still largely undeveloped sites in Uri's valley floor - is to become a large commercial and industrial quarter.
One parcel of Eyschachen belongs to the canton of Uri, the other to Armasuisse. The federal government has now put its 55,000-square-meter parcel up for sale, according to local media reports. Interested parties can apply for the purchase until the end of February, and the target price is reportedly CHF 4.7 million.
According to the neighborhood design plan, around 83,000 square meters are available for new buildings in the Eyschachen/Werkmatt area, with the rest of the space distributed among roads, bicycle and pedestrian paths, parking areas and green spaces. Overall, according to calculations by the canton, the area has potential for attracting 2,000 to 2,500 jobs.
