The D4 motorway between Prague and Písek has been completed after 43 months of construction and is now open to traffic. The project, which was implemented as the first major PPP model in the Czech Republic, significantly improves the transport infrastructure and relieves many communities in the region. Furthermore, great emphasis was placed on sustainability and environmental compatibility during its implementation.
Construction work on the D4 motorway is now complete. Since yesterday, drivers can travel on the route from Prague to Písek. A total of 32 kilometres of new motorway have been built between Příbram and Písek, while an additional 16 kilometres of older sections have been modernised. The construction took 43 months, and the administration and maintenance of the motorway for the next 25 years are the responsibility of the concessionaire, who is paid by the state for the accessibility of the motorway.
“The construction of the D4 motorway, the first major PPP project in the Czech Republic, has shown that this model of cooperation between the state and the private sector is one of the tools for ensuring the construction of transport infrastructure. Over the next ten years, we need to invest several trillion crowns in the development of transport infrastructure. To secure these funds, we are also relying on a greater involvement of private capital in other motorway and railway projects,” said Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
The D4 motorway was built as a modern and, above all, safe road, designed to better accommodate traffic in sections where accidents were frequent. Two opposing rest areas with full facilities, including 246 parking spaces, public toilets, petrol stations, and restaurants, offer comfort to drivers. Furthermore, the D4 will relieve several communities in the region, which have previously been burdened by heavy traffic, congestion, and emissions on the I/4.
“The completion of the D4 will significantly speed up the connection between Central and South Bohemia and relieve many communities in the region from traffic. Thanks to the completion of the D4, we will also open a record number of 110 kilometres of new motorways this year,” said Transport Minister Martin Kupka.
As part of the Czech motorway network, the D4 project also stands out for its extensive consideration of the environment. From the beginning, great attention was paid to sustainability in its many forms. Nearly 100% of the milled asphalt on the D4 was recycled. All the earth removed from the future motorway route was used to cover the embankments, while the topsoil was given to farmers.
“The D4 project was exceptional in terms of the large use of people and machinery, as well as the number of kilometres being built simultaneously. The construction pace was also exemplary,” added Martin Borovka, CEO of VINCI Construction CS, the contractor.
Via Salis Operations is responsible for the operation, monitoring, management, and maintenance of the motorway for the next 25 years. The state will remain the owner of the infrastructure and will take full control of the motorway in 2049.
