Civil engineering & infrastructure at PORR

As a powerful partner and full-service provider, PORR provides every service across the entire value chain of civil engineering and infrastructure from a single source. Whether it’s a new build, maintenance or upgrade, at home or abroad. We rely on the expertise, flexibility and ability of our staff to solve technical problems as well as the technical innovation and versatility of our processes. Special geological conditions, existing pipelines or other relics from times gone by demand a flexible and solution-oriented approach. PORR also has a remarkable array of equipment and resources at its disposal including gravel pits and quarries. This facilitates a broad range of applications, while the high levels of in-company competencies also reduce dependency on subcontractors. What’s more, the planning and execution of large-scale or complex special civil engineering projects, such as those for bridges or high-rise buildings, can be professionally fulfilled by PORR as a one-stop shop.

Civil engineering refers to a construction discipline that includes all structures located on or below the ground line. Classic examples of civil engineering include foundations or systems for drinking water and sewage. That said, when we distinguish between building construction and civil engineering, the boundary is drawn at the level of traffic routes. This means that many infrastructure buildings also fall under civil engineering. Included here are roads and railway lines as well as tunnels and bridges, even though many of them are located above ground.

Railway construction brings together an array of different construction services: earthworks and road construction, bridge construction and laying tracks, as well as building construction for railway stations and other structures. The synergies between these divergent fields are what makes railway construction one of PORR’s core competencies. We draw on decades of experience in demanding projects at home and abroad and provide all trades needed to realise a railway project from a single source. Our own equipment pool and interests held in other railway construction equipment companies guarantees us access to all of the specialist tools needed for building track superstructures and we also hold all requisite permits (railway licence and ECM certification). In addition, our comprehensive expertise in railway construction allows us to operate construction sites in areas where traffic and transport is still running – with customised and safe solutions.

In essence, the railway construction division covers the new construction, maintenance and conversion of track and switch systems, railway transport facilities and the construction of turnkey railway lines. Here, PORR draws on its international experience and is heavily involved in a wide range of projects for rail networks at home and abroad, in networks of municipal transport companies, trams and underground railways, as well as in the field of connecting railways for industrial operations. The Slab Track Austria system developed by PORR together with ÖBB, the Austrian federal railways, is used in Austria, Germany, the UK, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Qatar – to the full satisfaction of clients and passengers. It is known for its precise track system with excellent dynamic and structure-borne noise properties – that translates into maximum quality and accuracy with minimal maintenance required over its entire service life.

As a specialist in realising large-scale infrastructure projects involving multiple services, PORR handles complex challenges by applying its comprehensive expertise. Structural engineering includes, for example, bridges, passageways, subways, tunnels using the cut-and-cover or boring method, earthworks, and engineering structures. Structural engineering also includes traffic routes and everyday infrastructure such as flood barriers, underground railway construction, underground car parks and parking decks.

Particularly in inner-city infrastructure projects, the constraints are often highly complex and logistically challenging, e.g. building while maintaining daily traffic flows or complying with strict safety precautions when working in areas with increased hazards like refineries. For each of these projects, we develop customised solutions for construction processes, traffic phases and technical implementation in line with the requirements of our clients.

Bridges allow us to overcome obstacles and bring people together. Flexibility and transport over short distances have been and will remain essential for people and the economy. Bridges meet these requirements and facilitate direct, resource-saving connections – whether by road or by rail.

Even today, bridge construction is one of the ultimate engineering disciplines. For every phase of a bridge’s life cycle – design, build and maintenance – we serve as a reliable partner to our customers, delivering the maximum professionalism and precision. We can look back on more than a century of experience in bridge construction and have comprehensive knowhow – not only in new builds, but also in renovating existing bridges. The PORR range has it all covered: from every type of steel and prestressed concrete bridge to cable-stayed bridges and prefabricated bridges. Whether carrying out foundation measures in rivers or executing large refurbishment projects in inner-city motorway networks with high traffic volumes – by applying the experience of our experts coupled with state-of-the-art technology, we successfully realise complex projects in an environmentally friendly manner. A lot of the materials obtained from demolition or excavation during construction works are then professionally processed and returned to the materials cycle.

PORR SUISSE AG has a working group of specialists in the field of rock technology. Whether it’s rock clearance, rock stabilisation, various anchor works, nail walls, slope stabilisation, avalanche protection, ice clearance or repairs and installation of rockfall protection systems. With our experienced team, we meet the most demanding requirements for reliability, flexibility and versatility, giving us the ability to carry out instant work of any type.

By building power plants, we make a valuable contribution to the secure supply of electrical energy. PORR has established itself over many years as a reliable partner in plant and power plant construction at home and abroad. We increasingly focus on projects in the field of renewable energy, such as wind and hydropower plants.

The PORR range includes planning, foundations, earthworks, concrete construction, steel construction, pipeline construction, facades and outdoor facilities, as well as professional services. PORR covers the entire range of civil engineering services – from demolition, waste disposal and excavation support with every possible technical procedure, through to foundations, concrete construction and earthworks, thereby offering all project steps from a single source. We realise complex power plant projects, work with the client to develop customised, cost-effective solutions, and meet the most stringent requirements. Forward-looking technologies and innovations play a significant part in our success, such as the use of BIM in the construction preparation phase and to develop special foundation methods.

Every construction project needs a solid foundation – precisely tailored to the respective soil conditions and the planned purpose. Larger construction projects or infrastructure projects are especially in need of specialised solutions. As a full-service provider in special civil engineering, PORR carries out all types of excavation support, slope stabilisation, deep foundations, cut-off walls for flood protection projects, and soil improvements. We offer all common state-of-the-art solutions and cover the entire spectrum of special civil engineering – from diaphragm walls, sheet pile walls or narrow walls through to solidification, injection sealing and elevation grouting.

PORR’s special civil engineering is characterised above all by the fact that it is unique on the market: for every construction project, we offer a complete, customised solution that takes into account the most diverse customer requirements. Everything is possible, from the execution of classic subcontractor services to “turnkey excavation”. This type of full-service provision enables our clients to reduce interfaces and achieve greater certainty in terms of planning and costs from the moment the contract is awarded.

PORR has long been a trailblazer in road construction and infrastructure. As early as the start of the 20th century, PORR played a key role in the construction of Vienna’s Ringstraße as well as in the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in 1930. We build on this extensive experience in every one of our projects. Far beyond Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Poland and the Czech Republic, PORR is now a leader in building transport infrastructure. From complex large-scale projects and transport infrastructure projects like the construction of motorways, expressways and railways, to small-scale projects such as asphalting pavements and parking areas, we deliver the entire range of transport infrastructure construction with the utmost professionalism.

Here we provide the entire range of road construction services from a single source – from earthworks and unbound base courses to asphalt or concrete road surfaces, including drainage work. With our modern equipment and highly trained specialist staff, we are ideally equipped to meet every requirement.

Road construction of the future is sustainable and conserves resources. The majority of the building materials used are recycled and reused. State-of-the-art asphalt mix plants guarantee the careful use of energy and resources. Advances made in applying digitalisation to road construction ensure effective and cost-saving asphalt paving through cutting-edge software solutions that are constantly evolving.

Underground constructions such as tunnels, shafts and caverns create infrastructure that is fit for the future – one of the most demanding civil engineering disciplines, which also happens to be one of PORR’s core competencies. Our tunnelling teams can look back on extensive experience and references from the successful completion of tunnel projects for roads, railways, district heating supply, sewage systems and pumped storage power plants. The repair and modernisation of existing tunnels complements our services in our home markets. Expertise, innovative, flexibility and an ability to find technical solutions are an absolute must in underground construction. Every metre excavated can reveal an unforeseeable challenge, which PORR manages professionally and expertly, with safety as the top priority.

From building underground railways in inner-city conditions, conventional tunnelling with shotcrete to highly sophisticated tunnelling with tunnel boring machines: PORR is one of Europe’s leading providers in all areas of underground construction and solves complex challenges with expertise and innovation. A clear focus on lean structures and processes – coupled with the consistent use of digital tools and energy-efficient production equipment – form the basis for cost-effective and innovative project management. As a reliable partner, we have successfully proven our technological expertise in all common tunnelling methods time and again (Gripper-TBM, open-shield, earth-pressure and hydro-shield) and also in large cross-sections from six to 13 metres.

Water is one of the most precious resources on this earth – and a conscientious approach is a prerequisite for guaranteeing our quality of life in the longer term. Hydraulic engineering encompasses hydropower engineering, river engineering, coastal engineering, navigable waterway construction, flood protection and groundwater remediation. Another essential factor alongside pure civil engineering skill is the assessment of the ecological impact of hydraulic engineering projects.

From small power plants to flood control structures: as a leading provider of hydraulic engineering services, PORR is involved in a wide range of projects in power plant construction, flood protection, and dam construction at home and abroad. Hydraulic engineering combines a wide range of construction disciplines. From subsoil sealing, special civil engineering, gallery construction, earthworks, concrete and road construction to landscaping – PORR delivers the full range of services with its own specialist staff.

Whether electricity, gas, water, wastewater, telecommunications or district heating pipelines – a close-knit network of pipelines provides the basis for our modern lifestyle and keeps us supplied with the essentials, day in, day out. This is why pipeline construction is a key component of our service range. Our team of experts builds pipelines for supply, disposal and communication using state-of-the-art technologies. Thanks to our complete coverage and multifaceted expertise, we can deliver individual, environmentally friendly solutions tailored to the local conditions and execute demanding pipeline projects efficiently and safely.

Modern infrastructure presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The growth of cities and their populations requires future-proof solutions in light of the infrastructure, environmental and economic developments that accompany this shift. Modern mobility and transport systems must meet the requirements of digitalisation, they must be energy-efficient and generate as few CO2 emissions as possible. The goals are clear: reduce traffic, shift traffic, improve traffic.

As a flexible full-service provider in every facet of civil engineering and infrastructure, PORR offers a comprehensive range that covers every area of the modern construction industry and is aligned towards contemporary requirements. A high degree of in-house value creation, comprehensive expertise, and many years of experience make PORR a skilled partner for realising a wide range of projects.

In addition to the requisite knowhow and its innovative problem-solving capabilities, PORR’s top priority is preserving the environment and conserving resources as well as the highest standards of occupational health and safety. State-of-the-art technology and construction techniques are applied when realising projects to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Quality assurance takes place throughout the construction process and as part of the approval phase by means of internal quality assurance procedures.

One essential component of civil engineering and infrastructure projects is the preliminary structural and planning work. By applying our practice-based statics processing and considering all key parameters, we are able to deliver complete solutions that are technically sophisticated, individually thought out and cost effective – right from the tender stage. Our clients benefit from our many years of experience in executing and managing projects as well as from our flexible expert employees who are authorised to make decisions. We apply joined-up thinking, ensure all project participants are closely involved, and meet the most stringent requirements in terms of adherence to deadlines, quality and occupational safety.

Our goal is to fulfil the individual wishes of our customers and to build structures that are as sustainable as possible. We always guarantee efficient project execution and project management. We develop the right solution for every project to meet the requirements of our clients. And for this we draw on digital advances: from process optimisation in road resurfacing via the use of drones for measuring right through to terrain modelling with excavator deployment based on 3D models.