The section Jablonov – Studenec opened to traffic

Eight days after the ceremonial opening of the D1 motorway section Sverepec – Vrtižer to traffic,  another D1 motorway section Jablonov – Studenec was put in service on June 7, 2010 (so far only in half (single-carriageway, two-lane) motorway profile). The ceremony was attended by Messrs. Ľubomír Vážny, the Minister of transport, posts and telecommunications, Igor Choma, the government’s commissioner and the Director General of the national Motorway Company, Peter Zsabka, the representative of the European Commission, Peter Chudík, the Head of the Prešov self-governing region and other guests. The company Doprastav was represented by Eng. Dušan Mráz, the company’s president, Eng. Alexander Menyhárt, the Director of Production and Technologies Division, Eng. Ján Záhradník, Commercial Director, Eng. Róbert Turanský, the Director of Foreign Business Activities Department and Eng. Miloš Petráš, the Director of Human Resources. The top management of the Zvolen Division, with Eng. Ján Šoltýs, the Director, at the head, was not missing either. The section was constructed by the Consortium “Jablonov-Studenec” (the consortium leading member is the company Doprastav).

In their speeches the guests have highlighted the importance of the motorway section Jablonov – Studenec (it was opened to traffic at the same day together with another two sections) from the increased traffic safety and improved traffic flow in the Spiš area points of view. They did not forget to put in remembrance the difficultness of construction of this section either.

These facts highlighted even more in his speech Eng. Dušan Mráz, the Doprastav’s President. He has reminded, that Doprastav was constructing this motorway section for the first time according to the contractual conditions of the Fidic’s Yellow Book. The Doprastav’s Zvolen Division managed to cope with this project successfully in spite of the fact, that since the beginning its position was very difficult. Due to a number of reasons the commencement of works was delayed, and when it seemed that it will be possible to work at the highest performance level, the inclement weather has started. The long winter, low temperatures, and later nearly everyday rains, that all was “testing” the personnel’s quality.

Help at the flood

It cannot be omitted not to be put in remembrance that during the Works final stage there was another high-priority task added to those that were dealt with by the team members working with Eng. Ľuboš Kováč, the Project Manager and Eng. Štefan Samák, the Chief Site Engineer. The flood has hit also the municipality of Studenec, where the project site was located. After having it agreed with the Municipal Administration office, with Mr. Imrich Sivák, the Mayor, the necessary machinery was put at the disposal, the machines that were securing, and according to instructions were working on fortification of brooks banks and the bridges protection. Also thanks to them there were no major damages caused to the municipality of Studenec, because should these works not be carried out, the water could flood the whole village.