page_title: Sigmundstor, Salzburg
section_title: Construction
hierarchical_section_title: Sigmundstor, Salzburg / Construction
caption_attribution_description: Sigmundstor (Salzburg) - Gedenktafel
context_page_description: The Sigmundstor, generally known as the Neutor, is a tunnel in Salzburg built in the 18th century. 131 metres long, connecting the Altstadt with the Riedenburg quarter, it is the oldest road tunnel in Austria. After the 64-metre Urnerloch in the Gotthard Pass and the eastern bore of the Ilzdurchbruch in Passau it is the oldest known road tunnel in Europe. In earlier times it was also one of the city gates of the historic Altstadt. From 1916 to 1940 a tramline ran through it, and since then it has formed part of a route of the trolleybuses in Salzburg.
context_section_description: In 1759 the commissioner of buildings Elias Edler von Geyer again suggested a cut through the Mönchsberg to the then Prince-Archbishop  Sigismund von Schrattenbach. After delays caused by concerns about its feasibility the project began on 14 May 1764. Digging started on both sides of the mountain and on 2 September 1765 the dividing rock between the two excavations was broken. The work cost 19, 820 Gulden, including 11, 538 Gulden on the gateways alone.
  The excavation of the 135m long tunnel, 5.5m wide and 7m high produced around 4,500 m³ of waste stone which was used for roadbuilding. The tunnel is dug at an 8% inclination, which helps natural light illuminate it.
caption: memorial plaque in the Sigmundstor
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