Go-ahead for controversial highway

APPROVAL HAS now been given for work to go ahead on a key section of Slovakia’s D1 highway. The work had been delayed as the European Commission (EC) was concerned over environmental issues facing sections of the route that passed through a nature reserve. The EC has now given its approval for construction of the highway between Martin and Presov on conditional terms. The EC says that the sections in zones belonging to the Natura 2000 network can be built once terms are agreed with the Slovak government o
May 30, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
APPROVAL HAS now been given for work to go ahead on a key section of Slovakia’s D1 highway.

The work had been delayed as the 2465 European Commission (EC) was concerned over environmental issues facing sections of the  route that passed through a nature reserve. The EC has now given its approval for construction of the highway between Martin and Presov on conditional terms.

The EC says that the sections in zones belonging to the Natura 2000 network can be  built once terms are agreed with the Slovak government on compensations for environmental damage. This decision means that construction works can now start between Poprad and Presov and most parts of the Martin-Ruzomberok section. The approval allows the 1054 European Investment Bank (EIB) to provide a €1 billion loan for the project.

The highway will be built by the consortium  of 2877 Doprastav and Vahostav as a public-private partnership (PPP) under a 30-year concession deal.

The eastern part of the 75km road is expected to open in 2012 and the Martin-Ruzomberok section in 2013.

Although the EIB approved the whole loan, the EC approval is only for certain sections and any works affecting zones which are part of the Natura 2000 network must be postponed until the EC says that the project complies with EU  regulations. The controversial sections include a peatland close to the Natura 2000 zone and pillars in the Vah River which could affect the local environment.

The 2875 Slovakia’s Ministry of Transport says that  99% of problems related to the Turany-Hubovy section have been already resolved, although Priatelia Zeme-CEPA, the Slovak branch of the  Friends of the Earth, and other environmentalist groups claim that construction of the D1  motorway in the Turany-Hubova section cannot comply with the EU Biotop Protection Directive.

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