Source: baustela.hr
A major Dalmatian project has reached an important conclusion. Croatian Roads has selected a contractor for the 4.5-kilometer-long section of the expressway between Dugi Rat and Omiš. The job was awarded to the Croatian-Turkish consortium Texo Molior and Özgün İnşaat, and the contract value is 84.7 million euros excluding VAT, or 105.9 million euros including VAT, which figuratively means as much as 23.53 million euros per kilometer. This section represents the first and key step in the implementation of a project worth more than 300 million euros, which will build 22.5 kilometers of the Solin – Stobreč – Dugi Rat – Omiš expressway. The new road will include tunnels, viaducts and connecting roads, and its main goal is to relieve the overburdened Adriatic Highway and ensure safer and smoother traffic between Split, Omiš and surrounding settlements.
One of the largest infrastructure projects of Croatian Roads has reached a crucial epilogue – the contractor has been selected to build the expressway section between Split and Omiš. More precisely, it is the Dugi Rat – Omiš section, together with the connecting road from the state road DC8 to the Dugi Rat junction, with a total length of about 4.5 kilometers. So, this is only a small part of a much larger project, but also one of the first and key steps towards its implementation.
The most favorable bid was submitted by the Croatian-Turkish consortium Texo Molior, Özgün İnşaat Taahhüt Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi and Özdemir İnşaat Turizm Enerji Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. The value of the contract is 84.7 million euros excluding VAT, or 105.9 million euros including VAT. This means that the construction price is as much as 23.53 million euros per kilometer!
It is worth noting that three more companies applied for the tender, which was held in March – STRABAG, Euro-asfalt and China Road and Bridge Construction. It is particularly interesting that the Chinese company offered a price only 200 thousand euros higher than the winning bid. The bids of STRABAG and Euro-asfalt were rejected because they exceeded the planned and secured funds, respectively. Their bids amounted to as much as 109 and 91 million euros, excluding VAT!
Strategic project of the Split agglomeration
This section is part of a large strategic project called the Multimodal Platform of the Split Agglomeration – Expressway Solin – Stobreč – Dugi Rat – Omiš, with a total length of 22.5 kilometers and an estimated value of 314.69 million euros. The project is defined in the Transport Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia for the period 2014-2030 and included in the spatial planning documents of the Split-Dalmatia County.
The aim of the project is to provide a smoother, safer and faster traffic corridor from Split to Omiš. This would significantly relieve the existing state road DC8, which runs directly along the sea and through densely populated areas. Stobreč, Grljevac, Sv. Martin, Suhi Potok, Dugi Rat and Omiš. This road is currently the only road connection between Split and Omiš. Due to its geometry and numerous irregular intersections, it is often a traffic bottleneck in the entire region.
Condition of the existing road
According to data from the public procurement system, the state road DC8 from Stobreč to Omiš is burdened with numerous problems. These include irregular intersections without special turning lanes, uneven horizontal curves and a lack of pedestrian paths. In most settlements, pedestrians are forced to move on the roadway, which creates additional danger and slows down traffic. Bus stops are not equipped with parking spaces, and public transport also makes it even more difficult to flow.
According to data from Croatian Roads, the Omiš-West measuring point recorded an average annual daily traffic of 15,084 vehicles in 2022. The feasibility study predicts that by 2044, this number will ‘jump’ to 18,333 vehicles per day on the new expressway, while traffic on the existing DC8 would increase to 15,374 vehicles per day. Such data clearly confirms that the existing road can no longer meet the needs of the region.
The new road and its significance
The newly constructed section will meet all technical requirements for a design speed of 80 km/h. This will achieve significantly greater safety and traffic flow. It will be built in a new corridor, since the existing area along DC8 is already built up with residential and commercial buildings and does not allow for reconstruction.
The route begins in the Dugi Rat settlement, at the intersection with the DC8 state road, after which it enters the 852-meter-long Dugi Rat tunnel. After exiting the tunnel, the road leads towards the Dugi Rat junction and continues along the hinterland of the settlement to the Komorjak tunnel, where it will connect with the existing constructed section. The works also include the relocation and protection of electrical and water installations, which further confirms the complexity of the project.
Infrastructure facilities and construction phases
A number of significant infrastructure facilities will be built on the route. The Dugi Rat, Rogač, Vavlje, Vojnovići and Miterez viaducts are planned, as well as the Ljut 1 and Ljut 2 tunnels, as well as the Duće pass and the Naklice viaduct. Each of these facilities will play a key role in overcoming the demanding terrain, but also in ensuring flow and safety. As can be seen in the graphic attachments, the road will eventually connect to the bridge over the Cetina River, which was opened last year.
As written in the documentation, the construction of the section will include several phases and construction permits. Special emphasis will be placed on safety aspects, from structural solutions for viaducts and tunnels, to adaptation to traffic loads expected in the future. This will ensure the long-term sustainability of the entire system.
Traffic and economic importance
The new expressway between Split and Omiš will have a far-reaching impact on traffic, the economy and the daily lives of residents. It will reduce congestion on the existing overburdened Adriatic Highway, shorten travel times and increase safety for all road users. At the same time, it will create better conditions for the development of tourism and the economy in Omiš, Dugi Rat and the surrounding settlements.
The project, worth more than 300 million euros, is thus becoming one of the most important infrastructure projects in Dalmatia. Its implementation will mark a new phase in the transport development of the Split-Dalmatia County and the entire coastal region, creating the foundations for a safer and more efficient connection between Split and its agglomeration. However, as we have said, this is only the first step towards its implementation.
Photo: EOJN
