The Croatian bridge that cost 525 million euros is opened.
With the touch of a button by several children and accompanied by fireworks, Mate Rimac in a Nevera car described the first kilometers of the Peljeski bridge, which will be the new symbol of the Croatian state.
The bridge that connects the south of Croatia with the rest of the country crosses a sea strait with a width of 2140 meters, is 2404 meters long, with a navigation profile under the bridge of 200 by 55 meters and the main designer is the architect, Marjan Pippenbacher.
The 2.4 kilometer bridge is expected to dramatically decongest land routes along the Balkan coast.
The entire project cost 525 million euros, of which 357 million euros were provided as a grant from the European Union.
The bridge has 13 spans, and the five main spans are 285 meters long. It was placed on six reinforced concrete pillars 33 meters high.
There are two movement lanes and two stopping lanes, which serve for its maintenance. In 2018, a Chinese consortium led by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) won the bid to build the Peljesac Bridge.
The construction of the bridge started four years ago and was completed on time.
The Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, spoke to the media, who expressed his feelings by asserting that “this is a historic day.
This is a pan-Croatian and supra-party project. A project of pride and a project of a generation.
We achieved the act of unification of the south of Croatia”.
The president, Zoran Milanović, also stated that “Bridges are mainly the work of special people”.
The best of us gave our lives and our health. This bridge would not have been possible if a small number of good people had not defended the south of Croatia 30 years ago.
“This bridge reminds us of this”, adding that “This bridge is for the benefit of all people, regardless of nation, social status, faith. I believe that we will strengthen our awareness”.
