Czech I/35 highway project delayed two to three years after court revokes environmental permit

The Supreme Administrative Court rejected the Roads and Motorways Directorate's (ŘSD) appeal against a decision by former environment minister Petr Hladík, who in his last day in office cancelled the 2021 environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval for the I/35 bypass between Turnov and Jičín. The court's ruling means the EIA process must start anew, adding an estimated two to three years to the preparation phase.

The delay affects a planned 35‑km segment that would divert transit traffic away from built‑up areas and improve connectivity between the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions. The project, part of the broader D35 extension to Úlibice slated for completion around 2029, is budgeted at roughly 30 billion CZK. Local municipalities and environmental NGOs have voiced concerns over the traffic burden and the legality of the original assessment.