- by croatiaweek
- May 13, 2026
- in
(Photo: Vlada Republike Hrvatske)
A contract has been signed for the construction of a third traffic lane on the Zagreb bypass between the Zagreb zapad and Lučko interchanges, in a project valued at €29.6 million.
The agreement was signed at Banski dvori as part of a wider €65 million investment programme aimed at improving transport infrastructure in the Zagreb area.
The works will be carried out by Croatian companies Gip Pionir and Pedom Asfalti, the Ministry of Sea, Transport and Infrastructure reported.
The contract was signed by Hrvatske autoceste Management Board president Boris Huzjan and company representatives Ranko Predović and Ines Guštek, in the presence of Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković.
Speaking about the importance of the project, Huzjan said that more than 80,000 vehicles use the section every day, with traffic volumes increasing further during the summer tourist season.
He also announced additional investment plans for the Zagreb bypass, confirming that reconstruction works on the 13-kilometre section from Bregana to the Zagreb zapad interchange will begin next week.
The value of that project is estimated at €12.5 million.
“Within a year, we will have 18 kilometres of new motorway infrastructure on the Zagreb bypass,” Huzjan said.
(Photo: Vlada Republike Hrvatske)
Further projects planned for this year include the completion of the renovation of the Plitvice rest area, valued at €15 million, as well as the reconstruction of the Rakitje interchange, estimated at €8.8 million.
Total investment in the Zagreb bypass transport area is expected to reach €65 million over the next year.
Transport Minister Oleg Butković described the project as highly significant, noting that the bypass is the busiest section of road infrastructure in Zagreb.
He said that, with the support of the Croatian Government and the ministry, Hrvatske autoceste is continuing a broader investment cycle focused on improving motorway infrastructure around the capital and across the country.
(Photo: Vlada Republike Hrvatske)
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said the bypass expansion, together with the planned introduction of an automatic toll collection system, would help reduce congestion on routes towards Split and Rijeka.
“This is a very important project and another contribution by the Government to the transport infrastructure of the City of Zagreb,” Plenković said.
The Prime Minister added that Croatia is entering the final phase of several major transport infrastructure projects designed to improve motorway and express road connectivity and strengthen links between regional centres across the country.
He highlighted a number of large-scale projects that have been completed or are nearing completion, including the Istrian Y motorway system, the Opatija–Matulji–Učka transport corridor, the continuation of the Rupa–Rijeka–Žuta Lokva road, and the section connecting Ston and Dubrovnik.
Plenković also announced plans for improved road links between Varaždin and Čakovec, which are expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to around ten minutes.
He also pointed to major investments in railway infrastructure, saying road projects are being complemented by significant upgrades to Croatia’s rail network.
“Hrvatska is positioned as the Mediterranean gateway to Central Europe, which is our comparative advantage. That is why these major investments in critical infrastructure and transport connectivity are important for stronger economic development,” Plenković said.