Raz: Construction on All Three Sections of D3 Motorway to Be Launched This Year

Bratislava, 18 August (TASR) - The public procurement procedures to find contractors for all three sections of the D3 motorway have been completed, with building permits already issued for two of the sections and the third permit expected within a few days, Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) told a a press conference on Monday, adding that the construction work should begin this year. "In other words, all the prerequisites have been met for us to be able to make a significant step towards relieving traffic in Kysuce (Zilina region) of 20,000 cars per day while significantly improving the lives of the local people in this area," he said. "I believe that this is also essential for all Slovaks, as well as for our neighbours in Poland because this is a very important transport route for both of us," added Raz. The total cost of all three sections was initially estimated by the designers at €1.2 billion; however, under the current administration, the price was recalculated and reduced to some €890 million based on contracts, Raz explained. The three sections are the last motorway sections to be co-financed by the European Union, with 85 percent of the total amount coming from EU funds and the remaining 15 percent from the state budget. All three contracts are expected to be signed on 30 September, said Raz, adding that enforceable and valid building permits should be ready by then. "So by the end of this year, we want to see some construction machinery on all three sections," stated Raz. The motorway could therefore be completed by 2030. Also attending the press conference, Transport Ministry State Secretary Igor Choma said that with the first section completed between Brodno and Kysucke Nove Mesto, the current traffic level of over 20,000 cars per day could be reduced by more than 60-70 percent. jrg/df/lin