Ružomberok bypass on D1 highway to open in October

The Ružomberok bypass, a significant section of Slovakia's D1 highway, is scheduled to open in the first half of October. Minister of Transport Jozef Ráž announced that the Hubová – Ivachnová section is nearly complete, with only final administrative details and finishing touches remaining.

The 15-kilometer stretch includes 19 bridges, three interchanges, and the 3.6-kilometer Čebrať Tunnel. Once operational, the bypass will divert transit traffic away from the city of Ružomberok, potentially saving motorists approximately 16 minutes of travel time, with even greater savings during peak hours. The route is expected to accommodate up to 20,000 vehicles daily.

Construction of this section has faced significant delays and cost increases due to geological challenges, specifically landslide risks near Likavka Castle and issues with the tunnel's foundation. These complications led to a redesign that extended the tunnel by approximately 1.6 kilometers and pushed the project cost well beyond the original estimate of 290 million euros.