Raz: Landslide Delays Ruzomberok Bypass Completion

Ruzomberok, 16 April (TASR) – The completion of the Ruzomberok (Zilina region) motorway bypass continues to be complicated by a landslide in difficult terrain in the Likavka area, the National Highway Company (NDS) and the Transport Ministry confirmed to TASR on Thursday. Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a nominee of Smer-SD) told HNtelevizia that the opening date for the D1 motorway section Hubova – Ivachnova is estimated for a period after the summer. According to NDS, both the contractor and the investor share a common interest in completing the construction as soon as possible, but not at the expense of quality. "In the interest of resolving the situation as quickly as possible, we monitor the construction daily, while official inspection days are held more intensively, literally every second week," the NDS press department told TASR. Transport Ministry spokesperson Petra Polacikova said the ministry, together with NDS, will do everything possible to ensure that despite all complications, the Ruzomberok bypass can be handed over to motorists this year. The D1 Hubova – Ivachnova section is nearly 15 kilometres long. It includes 19 bridges, three intersections and the 3.6-kilometre-long Cebrat tunnel. The motorway section will form a bypass of the town of Ruzomberok and, once completed, will connect to the four-lane motorway towards Kosice. The motorway near Ruzomberok is expected to save motorists 16 minutes compared with travelling on a first-class road. The construction directly links to the planned D1 Turany – Hubova section towards Martin. mf