On the Pelješki bridge, which was opened in July 2022, the first problems appeared, namely on the concrete columns that support the entire structure.
According to the Italian newspaper Il Piccolo, the first cracks on the pillars are visible on the bridge.
“The bridge connects the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and the rest of Croatia, bypassing the Neum Corridor (and its border crossings), the only strip of land in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a view of the Adriatic. According to information from the Dalmatian region, the problem appeared a few months ago, causing considerable public concern, especially among drivers who pass under the magnificent building,” this paper writes.
Il Piccolo also requested a response from Croatian Roads, and this company stated that it is not a serious or dangerous situation and that everything will be remedied as part of the guarantees and costs that will be covered through it.
“Croatian taxpayers will not pay for this situation. The contractor has approved a 10-year guarantee period for the proper functioning of the structure. At the same time, China Road and Bridge Corporation has provided bank guarantees worth 10 percent of the value of the bridge in case of problems. In short, we are covered and we are waiting for the builders to do their work. We can confirm that the work has not started yet,” they explained.
The case therefore exists and the parties are working on formulating a rehabilitation plan. It is not yet known how much it will cost, nor when the repairs will begin, nor what they will entail.
“We can confirm that crossing the bridge does not pose any danger,” said Croatian Roads.
Completed between 2018 and 2022, the Dalmatian giant bridge was opened on July 27, four years ago, an event that attracted wide attention, not only in Croatia. This gigantic structure, the value of which was approximately 420 million euros, was financed by the European Union with a non-refundable grant of 357 million euros. Klix.
