The construction of highways is accelerating, the state announces tenders worth 64 billion crowns

The construction of highways is accelerating, the state announces tenders worth 64 billion crowns
29/9/2016Press releases

In 2017, the transport sector will start constructing another 140 km of highways. Before the end of September, the Road and Highway Directorate will announce tenders for contractors for a total of 20 structures worth 64 billion crowns. The Minister of Transport, Dan Tok, said so at a joint briefing with the Minister of Finance, Andrej Babis.

The construction of highways is accelerating, the state announces tenders worth 64 billion crowns

While about 50 km of highway structures were launched in the last year, this year started another more than 70 km and for the next year, it is planned to launch another 140 kilometers of highways. The resort is thereby catching up the debt on rundown highway network left by the governments in previous years. That was the reason of extensive repairs without whose realization, a speed limit or closure of bridges would be necessary for many places.
"We have started the construction and in no later than five years, politicians will cut ribbons on the new stretches. But it is not just promises on paper or maps but concrete steps that we do. The proof is an improved construction efficiency, last year was the best ever year in building and repairs, and even faster implementation takes place this year. Since the beginning of the year, we have drawn already 60% of the budget, last year it was 42% for the same period, earlier even just around a quarter of the budget," said Transport Minister Dan Tok.
The Ministry of Transport supported by the Ministry of Finance released for the Road and Highway Directorate all the necessary resources to prepare the constructions. This measure succeeded to significantly accelerate sluggish preparation in recent years. "By the end of September, the Road and Highway Directorate will announce 20 tenders for constructions of highways and roads in the estimated value of 64 billion crowns, including VAT," added Minister Tok. The contracts will complement 16 tenders for road constructions worth a total of 15 billion crowns for which the competitions are already running.
For all major constructions will thus be announced tenders for contractors, and they start to be realized next year. Just in the last two years, 75 large project documentations were acquired through open tenders without which the preparation of the constructions could not go on. "This year we have a 76 billion budget for transport infrastructure, next year 82 billion along with EU money (30 billion from EU funds, 52 from national sources). We give 12 billion into repairs of highways and I. class roads, next year we will invest around 10 billion crowns," said Finance Minister Andrej Babis.
For the second year already, the Ministry of Transport has helped the regions to repair II. and III. class roads, in 2015 the regions received 4.5 billion to repair these roads and 3 billion this year. This is extraordinary money the ministry saved in the budget due to an improved utilization of European funds rather than national. "The conditions of regional roads bother us. Therefore, we have been first to particularly contribute 7.5 billion crowns to the regions from the state money over the last two years. However, they cannot automatically reach their hands out to the treasury. The regions wanted the roads under their government and they got permanent funds from taxes, they have to look after their roads and we cannot permanently glue their holes in the budget. When we save money in the budget for national roads and railways, we’re glad to help but the regions cannot rely on our funds, it is not responsible," said Finance Minister Babis.

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