Modernization of the Fribourg railway station

Gruner Stucky SA and Gruner SA are acting as the main civil engineering designers for the complete modernisation of Fribourg railway station. The work includes the creation of a new underpass 10 metres wide and almost 100 metres long, the upgrading of facilities to OHand standards (facilitated accessibility of platforms, existing underpass, etc.), the construction of a new architectural marquee, and the complete renewal of the railway infrastructure.

A key milestone in the project was reached with the partial opening of the new underpass on Thursday 7 December 2023, significantly improving access and traffic flow within the station.

The initial works, which began at the end of March 2021, were particularly intensive, involving 4 weekends of work dedicated to drilling 32 micropiles, the installation of 4 temporary bridges spanning 19.2 metres and 2 temporary footbridges spanning 20 metres on platforms 2 and 3, as well as the drilling of around 150 piles for the future Berlin wall and the start of excavation for the future underpass.

This project was also an opportunity to implement an innovative construction method: paperless construction, thanks to the integration of BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology. This digital approach enabled precise coordination of the works and efficient management of resources, guaranteeing that deadlines were met despite the logistical complexity inherent in works in an urban and operational environment. The adoption of BIM also facilitated collaboration between the different teams, reducing construction errors and optimising work processes.

The documentary below produced by Grancy Filmworks, highlighting this revolutionary method, will be included to give a visual insight into the impact of these technologies on the project. The film not only illustrates Gruner's commitment to innovation and technical excellence, but also serves as a benchmark for future digital construction initiatives in the industry.

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