THE TRANSPORTATION Ministry wants to invest Sk10.4 billion (€271 million) into road maintenance by 2010, the TASR news agency reported.
According to the Programme of Road Maintenance, around 703 kilometres of Slovakia's first-class roads are in an unacceptable condition. This represents 23 percent of the roads administered by the national roads authority, the SSC. Around 113 kilometres, or 3.7 percent, of these roads are in need of emergency repairs.
According to the ministry, the cost of repairs was underestimated, both last year and this.
The ministry says there are two variations for how to go forward. One variation would be to halt the deterioration of the first-class roads network with an investment of Sk1.9 million (€49,000).
The second variant, which the ministry favours, is to improve the condition of the first-class roads network and undertake all necessary emergency repairs. This variant would require financing to the tune of Sk2.4 billion (€647 million) in 2006.
