Bratislava bypass
Country: Slovakia
EU funding: EUR 1.76 billion
The Bratislava bypass D4/R7 in the Slovak capital was announced before a full project assessment had taken place and given the go-ahead based on manipulated data that belied a conflict of interest.
The data favoured a public-private partnership variant instead of state financing, with the idea being that construction would start in March 2016 and the first section operating by November 2018. However construction was delayed more than half a year, and there are no signs of the first section being finalised as of November 2018. So, the calculated benefits of the PPP option are not as favourable as planned.
For the price tag of the bypass, Bratislava could have put in place other alternatives, like a modern, integrated transport system that would encourage people to switch from car to urban transport and help the EU pursue its decarbonisation objectives.
Slovak authorities are currently investigating the mining of gravel and disposal of waste in an area protected because it is the largest sources of drinking water in central Europe. Mayors of local villages and civic associations have complained that suppliers for the Bratislava bypass D4/R7 mine materials without legal permits.
