Highway Transformation Opportunity: Hernalser Mainstrasse to Evolve into a Lush Avenues
Sprucing up Hernalser Hauptstraße: The U5 construction offers an exciting opportunity to transform this bustling, yet lackluster district. The Greens, in a recently presented study, have proposed a revitalization plan that promises a greener, more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood.
As it stands, the noisy traffic, congestion, and poor air quality make the street an unpleasant sight. Karin Prauhart, the Green deputy district mayor in Hernals, who has lived in the district for over 40 years, laments its decline: "In the past, the street was a beautiful linden avenue and a popular shopping street. Today, it is unattractive, and there's more and more vacancies." Judith Pühringer, the Green top candidate in Vienna and a resident of Hernals for 15 years, shares similar concerns.
The study suggests using the construction work for the U-Bahn line U5 to redesign the neighborhood above ground. The proposal includes planting 1,000 new trees and creating traffic-calmed zones to make the district more walkable and bike-friendly.
Turning Hernalser Hauptstraße into a green oasis: To achieve this, the plan suggests reducing car traffic, widening sidewalks, and creating more crossing opportunities for pedestrians. Side lanes could be transformed into cozy meeting zones with car-free plazas and small parks. To enhance the greenery, the study calls for bringing back the Alsbach, which has been flowing underground since the 19th century, to surface and flow through the Rötzergasse.
The redesign will not only improve the quality of life but also significantly reduce heat in the district, as we witnessed 48 tropical nights last year. The Greens estimate the costs at 50 million euros, a small price to pay for a more livable, inviting, and vibrant Hernals.
Hernals, the 17th district, was formed in 1892 from the communities of Hernals, Dornbach, and Neuwaldegg. Covering an area of 11.4 km², it is home to 56,671 people. The district mayor is Peter Jagsch (SPÖ).
The Greens, standing for the Green Alternative, advocate for ecology, minority protection, and migration. In Vienna, they were coalition partners of the SPÖ from 2010 to 2020, with Judith Pühringer serving as their top candidate for the election.
Judith Pühringer (born 1976) has been co-leading the Vienna Greens since 2021, alongside Peter Kraus, and is their top candidate for the upcoming election. Previously, she served as the managing director of "arbeit plus," a network of social enterprises. In the 2025 Vienna election campaign, she described herself as a climate social democrat.
- The Greens' propositional revitalization plan for Hernalser Hauptstraße aims to redesign the district above ground, creating a greener, more pedestrian-friendly, and bike-friendly neighborhood.
- The plan includes the planting of 1,000 new trees, the creation of traffic-calmed zones, and widening sidewalks to improve walkability and crossings for pedestrians.
- As a part of the redesign, side lanes could be transformed into cozy meeting zones, with car-free plazas and small parks, and the Alsbach, which has been flowing underground since the 19th century, could be brought back to surface and flow through Rötzergasse.
- The proposed changes are estimated to cost 50 million euros and are expected to significantly reduce heat in the district, as well as improve the quality of life and make Hernals a more livable, inviting, and vibrant place.
- The Greens, as the Green Alternative, advocate for ecology, minority protection, and migration, and they have previously been coalition partners of the SPÖ in Vienna, with Judith Pühringer serving as their top candidate for the election.
