D1 Motorway from Bratislava to Trnava Reopened

Bratislava, 20 April (TASR) - The D1 motorway from Bratislava's Zlate piesky area to the Bernolakovo (Bratislava region) interchange was reopened on Sunday evening (19 April) after 9:00 pm, the National Motorway Company (NDS) and the Transport Ministry reported on the same day. The section had been closed since Friday evening (17 April) in order to redirect traffic from temporary diversion lanes to the expanded D1 motorway. "Drivers can now use the reconstructed D1 route also when travelling from the capital to Trnava. Leaving Bratislava by motorway is now significantly simpler, safer and more convenient," stated the ministry, noting that the expanded section heading into the capital was reopened last week. According to the police, some sections remain closed until Sunday (26 April), namely the feeder road onto the D1 from road I/61 and the exit from the D1 towards Trnava onto the D4 motorway in the direction of Hungary/Austria. Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) said that "drivers can now use, in both directions, a modern four-lane motorway along part of the section, with eight lanes in total". The D1 motorway expansion project near Bratislava involving the D1/D4 interchange is currently one of the largest transport investments in western Slovakia, with NDS hoping to have the entire interchange fully operational by the end of June. "Some less visible work will continue under bridges and within the junction loops," said NDS General Director Filip Machacek. Minister Raz also mentioned ongoing discussions as to whether the motorway will be expanded to four lanes all the way to Trnava, or if a parallel road connecting to the R1 expressway will be built instead. "We're conducting a feasibility study for a parallel road that would connect directly to the R1. I trust this is a better solution also in terms of future closures, so that we have an alternative route," added Raz, noting that the final decision will likely rest with one of his successors. jrg