The Slovak Government on October 21 earmarked an additional €11.56 million from the state budget to complete the financing of the D1 motorway.
The D1 highway, which is supposed to connect Bratislava and Košice by 2014, is being completed via two private-public partnership (PPP) projects. The PPP projects are intended to finance approximately 150 kilometres of primary roads.
The government divided the PPP projects to into three packages. The first and third packages include the D1 sections, while the second package comprises sections of the R1 dual carriageway in central Slovakia.
Financial issues linked to the first package should be concluded with the contractor by February 15, when the construction completion dates should also be announced. The Transport Ministry said that 2013 is now a realistic completion date, owing to delays. Originally, the package was supposed to be completed by 2010 in sections without tunnels, and by 2012 in parts with tunnels.
A date for completion of financing arrangements for the third package is still in question. If the government doesn't manage to conclude agreements with the PPP contractors, it has said it will build the highway using money from the state budget and EU funds.
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
