Slovakia Celebrates completion of R2 Kriváň – Mýtna Expressway, Featuring the NationS Longest Overpass
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The long-awaited R2 Kriváň – Mýtna expressway in Slovakia is set to open to traffic on Thursday, November 20, marking a significant milestone for the country’s infrastructure and offering substantial benefits to residents of the Detva and Lučenec areas. According to the National Highway Company (NDS), the completion of the R2 Kriváň – Mýtna section is poised to alleviate traffic congestion in surrounding villages and establish a crucial international transportation artery. The project, which began in November 2021, involved a massive undertaking, with approximately 450 to 500 workers on site daily, many requiring specialized training for work at heights – the highest bridge pillar reaching nearly 45 meters.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for Thursday morning at 10:30 at the R2 building, and will be attended by key figures including Minister of Transport Jozef Ráž, State Secretary Igor Choma, NDS General Director Filip Macháček, and Doprastav representative Martin Valko.
Engineering Marvel in Challenging Terrain
Construction of the R2 Kriváň – Mýtna section presented unique challenges due to the tough terrain between the mountains of Slovenského Rudohory, Poľany, and Javoria. “On this construction, all the construction techniques of bridge construction that we currently know were used,” stated construction director Ján Karásek. The project utilized a combination of extendable ring, fly-in concreting, and gradual extension of the supporting structure techniques to build the record-breaking overpass, divided into eight dilatation units.
The scale of the project is impressive: almost 6.5 kilometers of bridges were constructed, utilizing approximately 30 large cranes sourced from Poland and the Czech Republic. Remarkably, bridge rings were assembled in the air at heights of around 30 meters, a departure from traditional ground-level assembly. All of this was accomplished while minimizing disruption to traffic on the nearby I/16 road, with closures limited to just a few minutes at a time.
A Project Rooted in Slovak Beauty
Beyond its practical benefits, the R2 Kriváň – Mýtna expressway is lauded for its aesthetic appeal. according to NDS,the route offers stunning views of the Slovakian landscape,enhancing the driving experience. “The opening of R2 Kriváň – Mýtna is an critically important milestone…which, in addition to its practical function, is also so visually impressive,” noted Filip Macháček, chairman of the Board and General Director of NDS.
The expressway begins at the Kriváň interchange, connecting to the existing R2 Pstruša – kriváň section, and concludes near the village of Tollbooth, linking to the R2 Kriváň – Lovinobaňa section.It crosses the I/16 road in three locations, encompassing a total of 6,402 meters of bridges.
Key Facts about the R2 Kriváň – Mýtna Expressway:
- 9 kilometers of new expressway
- Almost 6.5 kilometers of bridges
- Highest pillar reaching almost 45 meters
- Longest bridge in Slovakia (4,374 meters)
- Utilization of all current bridge construction technologies
- Bridge rings assembled in the air at a height of 30 meters
- Approximately 30 tall cranes utilized, including those from Poland and the Czech Republic
- daily workforce of 450-500 workers
- Four years of construction work
The completion of the R2 Kriváň – Mýtna expressway represents a significant investment in Slovakia’s transportation infrastructure, promising to improve connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and showcase the nation’s engineering prowess.
