I/35 highway construction delayed between Turnov and Úlibice

The construction of the I/35 highway section between Turnov and Úlibice has faced significant delays following the cancellation of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval by former Environment Minister Petr Hladík. To move forward, the Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD) has contracted the company Valbek for 25.3 million CZK to prepare new documentation.

Valbek will conduct a technical study to evaluate three potential options. While the route remains the same 33-kilometer path, the study will consider a full four-lane solution for the entire length, rather than the previously planned partial four-lane and alternating three-lane configuration. Additionally, the feasibility of a tunnel from Ohrazenice to the Valdštejnsko junction will be assessed.

Although current schedules suggest a possible start date of 2033, ŘSD Director General Radek Mátl described this timeline as highly optimistic. He noted that the process—including the new EIA, variant selection, design, and land acquisition—will take several years, making the 2033 target difficult to achieve.