Start of renovation works on the road over Vršič delays because of snow

There will be half-road closures on the road for several months

The planned start of renovation work on the road going over the Vršič mountain pass has been postponed because of bad weather.

Due to the specific traffic regime the renovation of the road is expected to drag on to next year, but tourism workers from the region are much more pleased with the present solution, as opposed to the initially proposed full closure of the road. Foto: Direkcija za infrastrukturo

The start envisaged works on a kilometer-long section of the road and a retaining wall on the Erika-Vršič section. Two bridges will also be renovated as part of the project worth 544 thousand euros. The contractor performing the works will be the Inkaing Company.

Last night it snowed in the Vršič area. This morning the road over the Vršič mountain pass was declared closed for all traffic due to snowy conditions. The road now is drivable, but roadworks have not yet begun. The Slovenian Infrastructure Agency explains that the planned half-road closure has also not been set-up, adding that renovation work will begin once the weather improves.

A partial closure of the road will be in place until the 7th of May, explained Tomaž Willenpart from the infrastructure agency: "After that a half-road closure will be in place until the 15th of June. Unfortunately, during that time the road will have to be fully closed for traffic for five days, that means 24 hours a day, when crucial works will have to be done on the retaining wall."

The full closures of the road will happen somewhere between the 8th of May and 15th of June. The exact days will be announced on time, but it is already known that buses will not be allowed to use the road during that period (bus traffic will be redirected over the Predel mountain pass). A one-way alternate traffic regime will be set up between the 15th of June and the 18th of September, after which the road over Vršič will once again be fully closed for traffic during weekdays - that's from Mondays to Thursdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and on Fridays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Due to the specific traffic regime the renovation of the road is expected to drag on to next year, but tourism workers from the region are much more pleased with the present solution, as opposed to the initially proposed full closure of the road. The Mayor of Bovec, Valter Mlekuž, said they were pleased with the compromise, but he also pointed to the long time problem with the open parking place at the top of the mountain pass, which also needs to be reconstructed.

L. L., Mariša Bizjak, Radio Koper; translated by K. J.