- The Višňové tunnel was identified by the PS as a symbol of failures and overpricing of constructions.
- It was built for 27 long years and the state paid more for it than planned.
- Some parts no longer meet current safety standards.
The Višňové Tunnel is not a success, but a monument to the failures of 15 years of Fico’s governments. This is claimed by the opposition movement Progressive Slovakia (PS) in connection with the Monday (December 22) announced opening of the tunnel, which is part of the new section of the D1 Lietavská Lúčka – Dubná Skala highway. TASR was informed about this on Sunday by Jana Matiašová from the PS media department.
Unnecessary deaths on the road under Strečno and the fact that the seven-kilometer tunnel was under construction for 27 years are not, according to the member of the National Council of the Slovak Republic for PS Ján Hargaš, a reason for celebrations. “The Višňové tunnel is a monument to unfulfilled promises, price gouging and bad decisions of the governments of Robert Fico (Smer-SD). And especially the fact that the highway to Košice should have been completed in 2010,” said Hargaš.
He pointed out that the tunnel was built for so long that some of its parts no longer meet current safety standards. “The descent to Vrútok is unusable today precisely because the construction rules have changed in the meantime. That’s not progress, that’s a shame,” he added.
Member of the Parliamentary Finance Committee Štefan Kišš (PS) added that the entire project is just an example of how the state can significantly overpay for construction. “For the entire 13-kilometer section, including the Višňové tunnel, Slovakia paid a billion euros more than it should have,” stated Kišš and added that the construction stopped in 2014, the contractor was fired and finally had to return to the project, which cost the state significantly more.
“Meanwhile, we lost time and money. We paid twice for the same work. And that’s exactly why talking about Slovakia under construction is a myth. The reality is a stolen and broken Slovakia.” Kišš concluded. The fact that motorists will not be able to get off the highway directly to Vrútok is, according to the head of the transport department, Jozef Ráž (Smeru-SD nominee), a consequence of the fact that the road was built ten years ago and does not meet current safety standards for highway exits.
“Safety standards are evolving, and today the norm is that the downhill can be up to 500 meters behind the tunnel. Of course, there are exceptions to the standards, but it is about safety. We are in the winter season, which means that 100 percent this downhill will not be open now.” he underlined Caliber. He admitted that after the end of the winter period, the competent authorities will begin to think about a possible solution to this situation.
The highway officials plan to officially open the new section of the D1 Lietavská Lúčka – Dubná Skala highway with the Višňové near Žilina tunnel on Monday. The section should significantly help the flow of traffic and relieve the road under Strečno.
