Branisko - first tunnel built in Slovakia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·                 The idea to tunnel through the massif  BRANISKO (5 kilometre long) appeared thirty years ago. In this time the first projects were created about this tunnel that would be situated on highway D1 between Levoča and Prešov. Our Parliament   began seriously dealt in1994 in the time of Mikuláš Dzurinda (Minister of Transport) nowadays he is the Prime minister of Slovakia. The final resolution about construction was accepted during the government of Vladimír Mečiar in1996.

              Tunnell BRANISKO belongs under the sector of a highway D1 from Behárovce to Branisko (it is a part of an international European highway E 50) It is the main connection in west- east direction. It connects the western part of France with the Ukraine and goes through France, Germany, the Czech republic and Slovakia

T              The permission of the construction was passed in March 1997.We started to tunnel through the mountain in August in 1997.The average daily progress was 3,6 metres in, the maximal daily progress in one way heading were 9 metres and 15 metres in return heading per day.

B                Banisko highway tunnel creates only the right (south) tunnel pipe with two traffic lines. Nowadays this tunnel pipe should be enough for 15 years. They put tunnel into operation on 29th June 2003.  

                  The hill of Branisko divides the area of Sariš from the area of Spiš. One month ago this area was one of the most dangerous parts in Slovakia. Thousands of cars have passed daily through the hill of Branisko. The opening of this tunnel helps to set lower the dangerous situation. 

         Written by Marián Popelka and translated by: Peter Svoboda
 

Update 11. November 2004
Ing. Lýdia Haliaková