Construction of the Petržalka tram line extension. (source: TASR)
A long-awaited tram line extension in Bratislava's Petržalka borough could be operating by the start of next year, Bratislava Mayor Matúš Vallo has said.
The Jungmannová-Janíkov dvor section is to be handed over to the city by December 15 this year, with trams operating on it as early as the beginning of the next year, Vallo said on social media. The exact date will depend on the permit process.
After almost two months of talks with the Chinese and Spanish management of the contractor behind the project, a new amendment to the contract was signed. Vallo called the talks 'difficult'.
In order to meet the new deadline, work will have to accelerate and the contractors have demanded an advance payment to ensure faster progress.
Under original plans, the extension would have been finished in September this year. However, due to inflation, effects of the war in Ukraine, as well as delays resulting from the discovery of WWII mines near the track, the construction has been delayed and costs of the project have risen form an original sum of €82.5 million including VAT to €99 million.
