Croatia's A1 Highway Expansion Plans Include Third Traffic Lane

The Croatian government has launched a public consultation for a major upgrade of the A1 motorway between Zagreb and Karlovac. The project will add a third lane in each direction over a 39‑km stretch, at an estimated cost of €250 million, with a two‑year construction timeline. It includes three new interchanges at Stupnik, Ašpergeri and Selce, reconstruction of the Jastrebarsko interchange, and the replacement of existing overpasses.

During works the existing lanes will be narrowed and speed limits reduced, with a temporary limit of 80 km/h suggested to improve traffic flow. Officials acknowledge that the new lane will not fully solve congestion, but see it as necessary given the growing freight traffic and the current daily volume of around 82,000 vehicles on the A1. State Secretary Tomislav Mihotić and transport experts emphasized the project's long‑term benefits for the national transport system, while also noting ongoing challenges such as the limited capacity of the Drežnik viaduct and the need for additional measures like speed control sections.