Bratušek says floods to change priorities in transport investments
Škofja Loka, 7 August - Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek visited on Monday some of the flood-stricken areas to inspect the magnitude of the damage to transport infrastructure. She announced that priorities in terms of investments would be changed as repair work first needed to be done, and that certain projects would be suspended until then.
Škofja Loka
Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek visits the Škofja Loka area, north-west of Ljubljana, to inspect the damage done to transport infrastructure by the floods.
Photo: Tinkara Zupan/STA
Škofja Loka
Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek visits the Škofja Loka area, north-west of Ljubljana, to inspect the damage done to transport infrastructure by the floods.
Photo: Tinkara Zupan/STA
File photo
Škofja Loka
Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek visits the Škofja Loka area, north-west of Ljubljana, to inspect the damage done to transport infrastructure by the floods.
Photo: Tinkara Zupan/STA
Škofja Loka
Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek visits the Škofja Loka area, north-west of Ljubljana, to inspect the damage done to transport infrastructure by the floods.
Photo: Tinkara Zupan/STA
Škofja Loka
Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek visits the Škofja Loka area, north-west of Ljubljana, to inspect the damage done to transport infrastructure by the floods.
Photo: Tinkara Zupan/STA
Škofja Loka
Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek visits the Škofja Loka area, north-west of Ljubljana, to inspect the damage done to transport infrastructure by the floods.
Photo: Tinkara Zupan/STA
Inspecting the state of transport infrastructure in Škofja Loka, northeast of Ljubljana, and the nearby Poljane Valley, Bratušek said that "our first concern is to ensure that transport connections throughout Slovenia are passable."
The minister was accompanied by representatives of the state-owned engineering company DRI and the builder Gorenjska Gradbena Družba, which is the concessionaire for the maintenance of state roads in the area.
On the way from Škofja Loka to the Poljane Valley, southeast of the town, Bratušek inspected the repair work on the damaged bridge near the village of Brode, where a one-way detour is arranged on the local road Zminec-Gabrk.
The minister said that the bridge on the main regional road would be repaired today or on Tuesday at the latest to the extent that at least one lane would be passable.
Noting that the main concern was to ensure passability around Slovenia, she said these were "emergency measures, while in the future it is clear to all of us that repairs after this massive natural disaster will be massive and will be our priority."
Bratušek added that priorities in terms of investment projects were changing with the latest developments and "everyone in Slovenia will have to understand this". It is not yet known, however, which investment projects will be suspended.
The minister announced that the Infrastructure Agency, motorway operator DARS and railway operator Slovenske Železnice should prepare in a week a plan to make construction machinery and engineering teams available for the most urgent work.
"I believe that all mayors and residents understand that the first priority at this moment is to help the affected areas," Bratušek said.
According to the information available to the minister, 75 road sections around the country were impassable on Sunday, the situation being the worst in Koroška and the upper Savinja Valley in the north.
Slovenske Železnice meanwhile reported that certain railway sections are still closed due to the storms that hit much of the country last weekend and that its employees are working on repairing the damage.
Where possible, alternative bus transportation has been arranged, but only in the areas where roads are passable, it added.
The left track of the Litija-Sava section, east of Ljubljana, is planned to be opened this evening. The repair of the two kilometres of the damaged right track will take longer. An alternative bus service on the Trbovlje-Litija route is available.
The company plans to open the Celje-Velenje railway line on Tuesday afternoon, while he Sežana-Jesenice line is expected to be opened on Tuesday evening. Repair work is currently performed on the Sežana-Most na Soči section.
The northern Koroška railway remains closed. Slovenske Železnice employees are currently making their way from Ruše towards Prevalje. There are no detours or alternative transportation, as some roads are still impassable, the company said.