Northern D1 Highway Completion Delayed Until 2026 as Costs Soar and Key Tender Cancelled

Slovakia's completion of the northern section of the D1 highway has been pushed back to 2026 following the cancellation of a crucial tender for the final missing segment. The delay affects the completion of the country's main east-west highway corridor, which connects Bratislava to the eastern regions. The setback comes as costs for the Ružomberok bypass have tripled from original estimates due to challenging terrain and landslide issues in the mountainous region. The cancelled tender for construction near Turany represents a billion-euro project that was essential for completing the final gap in the D1 network. The D1 highway serves as Slovakia's primary transport artery, linking the capital with major eastern cities and serving as a key route for international transit traffic through Central Europe.