Ljubljana, 9 September 2015 – Government Office for Development and European Cohesion, acting as the Managing Authority for European Structural Funds and the Cohesion Fund, approved the project “Reconstruction of bridges on state roads”. The reconstruction of ten bridges or bridging structures in the value of nearly EUR 5 million will be co-financed by European Regional Development Fund under the 2017-2013 programming period in the amount of EUR 3.5 million.
The project covers reconstruction of ten bridges or bridging structures which are worn out and damaged to such an extent that they endanger traffic safety. The bridges or bridging structures are: section in Podnart (reconstruction of the bridge over the river Sava), section in Šempas (construction of a replacement culvert over the brook Vitovšek), section at the castle Skrlinov grad (construction of a replacement bridge over the outfall of brook Socka into Pirešica), section in Lokavec in Jurklošter (construction of a replacement bridge over Gračnica), section in Polzela (construction of a replacement bridge over Hotunjščica), section in Petrovo brdo (construction of two replacement culverts), section in Trojane (rehabilitation of a viaduct over the avalanche) and the section in Prestranek (reconstruction of the bridge over Pivka).
The abovementioned improvements will ensure that the structures have the adequate load-bearing capacity and that their operating period is extended. The investment will improve technical elements of the driving areas and structures which will enable smooth driving and traffic flow thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions and noise pollution. The investment will also result in improved roads which are connected to the bridging structures and the driving area will be expanded with passageways for passengers arranged in certain sections. All of this will have a positive impact on traffic safety with the investment also preserving the connections between settlements.
With regard to the limitations of the national budget of the Republic of Slovenia EU support will contribute to finishing the implementation of a group of projects by the end of 2015. Reconstruction of individual bridges began with the support of national funds. Following the approval of EU support national funding, which is to be used in 2015 for payments to contractors or for project closure, will be reallocated to other state road projects.
For more information contact Ministry of Infrastructure and the Slovenian Infrastructure Agency.