SaS Urges Raz to Focus on D1 Motorway to Zemplin and R4 Expressway to Poland

Bratislava, 17 February (TASR) - The opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has called on Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) to focus on the construction of key transport routes, specifically the D1 motorway to Zemplin and the R4 expressway to Poland, TASR has learnt from the party's press conference held on Tuesday. They criticised the government for neglecting international corridors that are key for the development of eastern Slovakia, while prioritising projects that are less beneficial for transport. SaS vice-chair Marian Viskupic highlighted the need to build fundamental connections along the West-East and South-North axes. "The D1 to Zemplin and the R4 to Poland are two key priorities, and no one seriously doubts their importance. Without them, Slovakia is being bypassed by transit routes, we're losing out on toll revenues and, more importantly, development, which is what the east of the country desperately needs today," he stated. He expects the situation to become even more serious after the war in Ukraine ends. Without a functional road connection, Slovakia might fail to become part of transit flows during Ukraine's reconstruction, leaving domestic companies with a weaker starting position. "Instead of making intensive preparations for the D1 motorway section between Bidovce and the state border, the government has practically done nothing since 2023," he added. Viskupic also drew attention to differences in motorway construction costs, stating that Slovakia builds one kilometre for €28 million on average, compared to some €10 million in Poland and less than €10 million in the Czech Republic. The party's transport expert Peter Bathory commented on the upcoming tenders for the Batka–Figa and Zacharovce–Batka R2-expressway sections, which rank 74th and 86th in an official document on priorities in road-infrastructure construction. He added that the state is ignoring its own priorities while moving forward projects with lower benefits. jrg/df