BRATISLAVA, June 7, (WEBNOVINY) — Slovakia can still use about EUR 900 million from the active open loan of EUR 1 billion from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for highway construction, said Minister of Transport, Construction and Regional Development Jan Figel (KDH) at the HN Club forum dedicated to the financing of road and highway construction. Drawing of the loan is conditioned upon the quality preparation of specific highway projects and selection of suppliers of construction works.
Slovakia signed a memorandum on provision of the loan with EIB in the fall last year. For example, construction of the over eight kilometer-long D1 highway section of Visnove – Dubna Skala near Zilina could be financed from these sources. This highway will also include Slovakia’s longest highway tunnel, Visnove, almost 7.5 kilometers long. Figel informed that the tender for construction of this section should be launched in the fall of this year.
“This loan is designated for the financing of European projects so that their implementation can be accelerated. We have an open framework and specific projects will be administrated gradually, depending on their importance,” said Figel. He finds crucial project preparation for tendering and application for a financial subsidy from the European Union, which can support investment plans.
The transport minister recently presented a program for continuation of highway and dual-carriageway construction for 2011-2014. He said that the Cabinet should review the program next week. Transport Ministry’s priorities include completion of about 100 kilometers of the D1 highway between Zilina and Presov, construction of the D3 highway from Zilina across Kysuce toward the border with Poland, as well as construction of the zero bypass around Bratislava to the D4 highway and the R7 dual-carriageway from the capital city across Dunajska Luzna to Zitny Ostrov. Figel emphasized that three sections of the R1 dual carriageway between Nitra and Tekovske Nemce, with length of 46 kilometers, being constructed through the first implemented public-private partnership (PPP) project for EUR 723.6 million will be open to traffic as of September 28. The project also comprises construction of the 5.7 kilometer-long northern bypass of Banska Bystrica for EUR 163.5 million, which should be open to drivers in July 2012.
SITA