Slovakia advances railway upgrade while R1 highway extension faces delays

The Karlštejn‑Beroun railway section is being modernised by the SWIETELSKY Rail CZ consortium together with Elektrizace železnic Praha. Using a range of specialised machine lines, the project replaces the track sub‑base, ballast and superstructure without interrupting train traffic, cutting construction time for the seven‑kilometre stretch.

Separately, the three‑kilometre extension of the R1 highway from Banská Bystrica to Slovenská Ľupča has been postponed. Originally slated for completion in September 2026, the deadline has been moved to December 2028 due to landfill, gas‑pipeline and permitting issues, as well as the need to address a deteriorating bridge on the route. The new road is intended to relieve traffic into Banská Bystrica, which sees about 15,000 vehicles daily.