Project summary
The project included the construction of new roads totaling 32.5 km in length. A key component was the completion of a 2.5 km long bridge, providing a direct road connection between the greater part of Croatia and South Dalmatia, bypassing the Neum Corridor, which separates them by approximately 10 km.
The project also included construction of a connecting road to the main road on Pelješac, upgrades to the existing roads on Pelješac, and construction of the Ston bypass, which connects to the highway towards Dubrovnik and Montenegro.
The project was divided into three phases of construction:
1st Phase: Construction of a 2,5 km long bridge with a connecting road across the Pelješac peninsula to the D8 in Đonta Doli – a connecting road from junction Komarna to the bridge and a connecting road from the bridge to the junction with the field road on the Pelješac peninsula;
2nd Phase: Construction of an access road to the bridge – from the junction with the field road to the state road 414 on Zaradeže location (Duboka – Sparagovići/Zaradeže);
3rd Phase: Ston bypass (from junction Prapratno to junction Doli on State road D8) and a road from junction Sparagovići/Zaradeže to junction Prapratno (including the junction).
The implementation of the project was divided into 9 elements:
EP1: Construction of the Pelješac bridge
The construction of a 2.4 km long mainland – Pelješac peninsula bridge and construction site supervision services.
EP2: Construction of access roads Duboka (D8) – Sparagovići / Zaradeže (D414)
Works on the construction of access roads to the Pelješac bridge on the mainland and Pelješac sides, 12.04 km long.
EP3: Construction of Ston bypass (D414) – subsection Sparagovići / Zaradeže – Prapratno
Works on the construction of a 10.2 km long sub-section.
EP4: Construction of the Ston bypass (D414) – subsection Prapratno – Doli
Works on the construction of a 7.89 km long sub-section.
EP5: Land acquisition
Land purchases at the project implementation site.
EP6: Price adjustment
The funds are used for the purpose of price adjustment (so-called sliding scale).
EP7: Reserve
Used to finance unforeseen project costs.
EP8 (V) Publicity and visibility
Marking the location with temporary and permanent billboards and promotion of the project related to the start of the construction, opening ceremony, as well as all other promotional activities relevant to a project of this scale.
EP9 (PM) Project management and administration
Activities needed to monitor the implementation of the project, measure achievement, implement dynamics and measures of avoiding / mitigating the risks as identified in the implementation phase.
The project aligns with the relevant strategic documents, in particular with the OPCC 2014-2020, the Investment Priority “7a1 – To improve the TEN-T Road Network and Access to the TEN-T Road Network” and the Transport Development Strategy of the Republic of Croatia 2014 – 2030, where it is listed as a strategic project and identified within multimodal Objective 2: Improvement of Passengers’ Long Distance Accessibility inside Croatia. The implementation of the project resulted in reducing travel time from 101 to 35 minutes, and building 32.53 km of new roads.
Project results
The “Road Connectivity of South Dalmatia” project successfully reduced the negative effects caused by Schengen rules on Croatia by enhancing regional connections. This was achieved through the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, access roads, and the Ston bypass between 2016 and 2022, improving territorial cohesion and linking key regional centers.
The strategic impact of the project is evident in the following:
- Improvement of TEN-T network components along the Adriatic coast
- Enhancement of the competitiveness of the region
- Connecting the separated territory of the South Dalmatia with the rest of the Republic of Croatia
- Increasing the reliability of the transport system
- Minimizing the impact of climate change
- Minimizing the project’s environmental impact
The project also accomplished the following objectives outlined in the project preparation phase:
- Increasing the level of service of the transport system
- Increasing traffic safety
- Increasing reliability of regional supply
- Shortening time of travel between Split and Dubrovnik, Split and the Pelješac peninsula and the island of Korčula, and Dubrovnik and the Pelješac peninsula and the island of Korčula
- Providing access to the region when adverse weather conditions, e.g. strong wind, do not allow regular access by air and sea
- Reducing the impact of traffic on the environment by shortening time of travel
- Reducing the impact on cultural heritage, the town of Ston in particular
This project has positively impacted sectors beyond transport, particularly ICT, by enabling the installation of fiber-optic and other infrastructures through the pipes laid during its implementation. It has also boosted business infrastructure development in the area and brought benefits to local communities.
