Gov't okays financing of South Dalmatia road connectivity project

The Croatian government on Thursday green-lighted the financing of the project "Road Connectivity of South Dalmatia", including the construction of a future, 430.2-million-euro Peljesac Bridge.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at his cabinet's meeting that the decision to finance the project would facilitate the flow of passengers and goods towards the south of Croatia, including Dubrovnik.

This strategic project is part of Croatia's 2014-2020 transport development strategy, and the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry is tasked with securing the necessary funds for this purpose until the positive completion of the entire process of allocation of EU funds for the project.

Minister Oleg Butkovic said that this year's budget outlays for the project stood at HRK 261.8 million, and an additional 885.39 million in 2018, while in 2019 the sum will be HRK 815.9 million, which means HRK 1.96 billion (261 million euros) on aggregate.

Croatia expects the European Commission to co-finance 85% of the entire value of the project (EUR 430.2 million), that is, to earmark EUR 357.2 million for this purpose, said Butkovic, adding that the government was committed to the construction of Peljesac Bridge as a national, geo-strategic project.

In late December, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure received a notification from JASPERS, an EU body providing assistance in major infrastructure projects, confirming that the project to build the 2.4-kilometre bridge connecting the southern peninsula of Peljesac with the mainland was ready, with acceptable costs set at EUR 420.3 million.

The ministry sees this as a very important step in the procedure of approval of this strategic project.

The project also includes the construction of access and ring roads.

 

News