A8 (Croatia) - Future

Future

The government of Croatia and BINA Istra have agreed on a further expansion of the A8 route; additional carriageway and emergency lanes will be constructed between the Rogovići and Matulji interchanges, including the second Učka Tunnel tube. This construction is scheduled to finish by late 2014 or early 2015. The 45-kilometre (28 mi) section is expected to cost c. 300 million euros. As of October 2011, it was in the design development stage, while appropriate permits were expected to be issued in the summer of 2012. In 2003, the government also proposed to build a new route between the Učka Tunnel and the Matulji interchange in order to bypass the Opatija exit with its at-grade intersection, the only one of the route; the changes would also limit the longitudinal grade of the route to 4.9% and increase the design speed to 100 kilometres per hour (62 miles per hour). The new route is planned to intersect with the A7 motorway west of the Matulji interchange (where the A8 currently ends), in a proposed Matulji 2 interchange, with two additional interchanges (Anđeli and Frančići) planned between Veprinac and the new terminus. The existing Veprinac interchange is scheduled for reconstruction for an additional carriageway. The new section is expected to be 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) long; it will be part of the Rijeka transport hub, aimed at improving the road, rail and sea transport facilities in and around Rijeka.