An EU-funded project is building a 12.3 km section of the D3 motorway connecting Svrčinovec to Skalité, contributing to the economic development of north-west Slovakia.
- 09 November 2016
The construction of the Svrčinovec to Skalité section is part of the EU’s TEN-T policy to develop a Baltic–Adriatic core transport network. It seeks to create a new high-capacity motorway connection between Slovakia and Poland and also contribute to the economic development of adjacent regions.
The D3 motorway runs through a geologically difficult part of the Slovakian district of Čadca, located in the north-west part Slovakia in the Žilina region. The D3 starts at the motorway junction with the D1, bypassing Žilina, then goes to the north around Kysucké Nové Mesto and Čadca, crosses an interchange with the R5, and ends near the municipality of Skalité, where it crosses the Polish border and connects to the S69 motorway.
The project is a continuation of a major motorway connection between Bratislava, Žilina and the north-west region of Kysuca, followed by a connection to the S69 motorway in Poland. After its completion, the D3 motorway becomes part of the E75, an international route connecting Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece.
Preparatory work
The project covers phase I of the road building and includes preparatory work, the relocation of utilities, adjustments to vegetation, primary lining of the road way and the laying of bridge foundations. Phase II will cover secondary lining, completion of the construction of bridges, as well as pavements along the motorway.
The major part of the construction of the route includes the tunnels at Svrčinovec and Poľana and runs for about 11.265 km. This section covers a two-lane undivided motorway with an 80 km/h speed limit. The Svrčinovec tunnel is about 420 m in length, while the Poľana tunnel will be about 898 m long. The rest of the motorway, a 1.017 km directional junction at Svrčinovec, is designed as a 4-lane road with an 80 km/h speed limit.
Bridge construction
Road development will also include constructing 24 bridges with a total length of 6.111 km, retaining walls with a total length of about 913 m, as well as noise protection barriers with a total length of about 4.745 km. Thirteen of the bridges will be on the motorway, three at the junction, one above the motorway, while seven bridges will be on access roads.
In addition, 863 m of the I/11 roadway will be relocated along with 22 country and forest roads. A total of 28 access roads will be built to the construction site and a rest area will be constructed near Čierne.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Motorway D3 Svrčinovec – Skalité, I. phase” is EUR 155 608 136, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 130 362 272 through the “Transport” Operational Programme under the priority “Road Infrastructure (TEN-T)” for the 2007-2013 programming period.