NDS Opens Completed D1/D4 Interchange with Expanded D1 Motorway near Bratislava

Bratislava, 21 June (TASR) - The National Highway Company (NDS) is opening the D1/D4 interchange near Bratislava to traffic, with the final three of its eight ramps now completed, said Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee), NDS head Filip Machacek and representatives of the Polish contractor Budimex at a press briefing on Sunday. The interchange forms part of the expanded 3.6-kilometre D1 section between Bratislava and Triblavina. "This project is important not only for Bratislava, but also for the whole of Slovakia. Drivers travelling from various parts of the country to Vienna or Budapest no longer have to drive through the city," said Raz. He added that individual ramps have been gradually opened to traffic, with the remaining three being added on Sunday to make the interchange fully operational. "Thanks to this interchange, we've been able to divert transit lorry traffic away from the city. We've banned lorries from using Pristavny most (Port Bridge), and this move alone redirected 2,000 lorries, but it seems today that this interchange diverts as many as 10,000 vehicles per day from the city," said Raz, adding that the interchange is part of the system of toll-free bypasses around Slovak cities for passenger vehicles. "Although this is one of the shortest motorway projects in terms of length, it's also one of the most complex," said Machacek, noting that finishing works will continue for a few more months without affecting the traffic. Under an almost €111-million contract signed in November 2022, the widening of the D1 section and its connection to the D4 were originally scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025. The price has so far increased to nearly €118 million, excluding VAT. jrg