Though the Imperial Army no longer controlled the city, it still had the responsibility of protecting the Emperor, who resided in the Hofburg, the Imperial palace, located within the old city. Because of this, the military lobbied diligently for the Ringstrasse to be constructed to provide the maximum amount of safety for the Emperor. These requests were granted through the construction of two new barracks and an arsenal in strategic locations near railway stations. This way, though Imperial troops were not stationed within the city, soldiers could be brought in by railroad were another rebellion to occur. Wide open tracts of land were also kept open between the Hofburg and the surrounding, recently incorperated suburbs. Finally, the Ringstrasse itself was constructed with the military's demands in mind, 200 feet wide to prevent blockading, and completely encircling the old city, to facilitate troop movements from the barracks to anywhere in the old city.