Motorway construction plan postponed, waiting for “superconcept“
The government will not discuss updating the construction schedule of transport infrastructure for the years 2011–2013. Although the plan was on the Cabinet agenda, Ministry of Transport withdrew it.…
The government will not discuss updating the construction schedule of transport infrastructure for the years 2011–2013. Although the plan was on the Cabinet agenda, Ministry of Transport withdrew it. The ministry is preparing a superior document with the working title „transport superconcept“. It should determine state´s transport priorities, to reserve space for the various transport types and identify tasks for public services funded from public sources. Although the document is not yet completed, Transport Minister Vít Bárta gradually published its individual details. For example, he wants to raise tolls, to support the transfer of cargo from road to rail and to build using private capital. Information on delays in some projects has also been published. Other part of Prague ring road will probably not be completed in the near future, neither will be completed the expressway R4 from Prague to southern Bohemia and D3 motorway in Central Bohemia. The construction of high-speed railway from the Prague Ruzyně airport will probably also be postponed.
Next year, the budget of State Fund of Transport Infrastructure will decrease year-on-year by 36 % to CZK 61 bill. Should the funding continue at this rate, the Czech Republic will complete the motorway network backbone in one hundred years at the earliest. Minister thus looks to increase the budget from 2012, he also relies on PPP projects (ie. co-operation of the public and private sectors).
However, no PPP project is not ready to be realized yet. It is often spoken about using private money to expand the D1 motorway, to complete the parallel R35 expressway and to build D3 motorway from Veselí nad Lužnicí to České Budějovice. Private entities should also save the Prague ring road. It is expected that in case decision on using private capital is made still this year, construction of the first PPP project could start at the end of 2012, under best case scenario.