A7 (Croatia)

A7 (Croatia)

The A7 motorway (Croatian: Autocesta A7) is a 34.4-kilometre (21.4 mi) long motorway in Croatia. It connects the nation's largest port in Rijeka, to the Croatian motorway network, as well as to the Rupa and Pasjak border crossings to Slovenia. The motorway forms part of a longitudinal transportation corridor in Croatia, and it is a part of European route E61 Villach–Ljubljana–Trieste–Rijeka. The A7 motorway route south of Orehovica interchange, where it also intersects Pan-European corridor Vb, is a part of European route E65.

The A7 motorway runs near a number of Croatian cities and provides access to Učka Nature Park and, indirectly, to numerous resorts in the Istria and Kvarner Gulf regions. The motorway is nationally significant because of its positive economic impact on the cities and towns it connects, and because of its contribution to tourism in Croatia. The importance of the motorway as a transit route will be further increased upon completion of a proposed expansion of the Port of Rijeka and Rijeka transport node.

The motorway consists of two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each driving direction, separated by a central reservation. There are no emergency lanes in the tunnels. All intersections of the A7 motorway are grade separated. Numerous bridges, viaducts, tunnels, and other structures were required as the route traverses rugged terrain. As of 2010, there are ten exits and two rest areas situated along the route. Most of the motorway is not tolled, but a single section is tolled using an open toll system with pricing tied to vehicle classification.

Plans for the motorway were officially formulated in 1974 and the construction was started in 1977. The first 8.3-kilometre (5.2 mi) sections were completed as a two-lane expressway with grade-separated intersections, in 1988 and 1990, comprising the western arm of Rijeka bypass. As the first stage of the A6 motorway construction spanning between Zagreb and Rijeka neared completion in the 2000s, construction of a proper motorway along the A7 route started. In December 2009, the Diračje–Orehovica section was upgraded to a six-lane motorway, bringing the entire route between Rupa border crossing and Sveti Kuzam interchange to a uniform standard.

Two new sections of the A7 motorway are currently under construction, extending the route eastward into vicinity of Kraljevica, Crikvenica, and Krk Bridge. The two sections are scheduled to be completed by 2012. Current long-term plans for developing the A7 motorway define its ultimate southern terminus in Žuta Lokva at the interchange of the A1 motorway. This section is no longer part of any short-term plans, as no funding until 2012 is currently scheduled for the section. Further long term plans specify an outer Rijeka bypass and a new interchange with the A8 expressway.