A formal ceremony marked the end of excavation works on the second tube of the Karavanke tunnel yesterday.
Slovenia finished its half of the tunnel two and a half years after Austria did, due to setbacks selecting a contractor.
The head of DARS said he was happy the project was completed within the given timeframe and without any serious problems.
The new tube will be completed by late next year. It will then take on all traffic as the existing tube (built in 1991) is renovated. That is expected to take years.