A bypass to the south of Ptuj is more economical

Economic study

26. september 2018 ob 12.46 • Ptuj - MMC RTV SLO

The economic assessment by the Ministry of Infrastructure has shown that it is more economical to build the bypass to the south of Ptuj Lake, partly across the Natura 2000 area. Foto: Danijel Poslek

The inhabitants of Ptuj have learned the route of the Ptuj bypass. According to representatives from the Ministry of Infrastructure, an economic study has shown that it is more economical to build it south of Ptuj Lake, partly across the area of Natura 2000, and not through Spuhlja. The local civil initiative endorses this solution.

A bypass skirting Ptuj to the south is economically more justifiable, says the Ministry of Infrastructure. "This road makes sense as a whole, as a toll motorway, with speeds of 100kph," said Darja Kocjan from the Land Transport Directorate at the Ministry of Infrastructure.

"The economic and financial study has shown that a northern option is not viable. Neither for Ptuj nor for the communities in the area. From the perspectives of finance and transport, we have to go with the southern option, which crosses the Natura 2000 area," said Jurij Borko, mayor of Središče ob Dravi.

An ecology study will be needed due to the fact that the motorway's southern route crosses the Natura 2000 area. Vesna Kolar Planinšič from the Environment Directorate says that "an impact assessment regarding its admissibility in a protected area needs to be conducted, along with a report on its impact on the environment, so that the ecological perspective can be assessed – just like the economic perspective has been."

The mayors would like the impact assessment to be carried out in the field as soon as possible, so that the construction of the Ormož–Ptuj motorway, which has only just started, does not get interrupted. Milan Gabrovec, mayor of Markovci, is convinced that the procedures will unfold fast, because of Jure Leben, the new Minister of the Environment and Spatial Planning.

Alojz Sok, the mayor of Ormož, thinks that "the option along the lake’s southern side, which is the only possible option, needs to be taken forward."

At their next meeting (to be held within a couple of months), the mayors would like to meet both Leben, the new Environment Minister, and Alenka Bratušek, the Minister of Infrastructure.