The Directorate of the RS for Infrastructure is seeking a contractor for the works to arrange the road and parking at Vršič pass. The road reconstruction is expected to be completed before the 2026 summer season. After that, only 92 parking spaces for passenger vehicles will be available at the pass, which is considerably fewer than currently, when up to 350 vehicles park simultaneously at the top of Vršič.
As explained at the directorate, the reasons for reducing the number of parking spaces are spatial limitations and conditions of the consenting parties. Thus, 92 parking spaces for passenger vehicles are planned, three of them for disabled persons. 14 parking spaces for motorcycles and two parking spaces for buses will also be arranged.
"The parking arrangement will mean a significant reduction in the number of vehicles that can stop at the top of Vršič, as up to 350 vehicles park in this area today, and such a number of vehicles causes severe degradation of the roadside area, hinders transit flow on this road, and reduces traffic safety," explained the directorate.
The start of construction works in the pass area is planned for this autumn. Currently, a tender for selecting the contractor is in progress. The deadline for submitting bids expires on Thursday. Most works will be carried out next year, expected to be completed in the spring months of 2026.
Construction time-limited
Construction will be time-limited, as works will not take place during the tourist season. The method and procedure of construction and the detailed work schedule will be prepared by the selected contractor after induction. During construction, traffic is planned under half-closure, and for certain works, short full closures are also planned.
The project includes reconstruction of the road at the top of the pass and parking arrangement, as well as installation of a flat culvert and a new water supply connection. As explained at the directorate, the existing carriageway is heavily worn with numerous frost damages reflected in cracking and peeling of asphalt surfaces. At the edge of the carriageway, there is small gravel in several places as remnants of slope deposits.
The mentioned road connects Zgornjesavska Valley and Posočje and runs as a panoramic road through the heart of Triglav National Park. The road is heavily loaded especially in traffic months with both transit traffic and tourists and hikers whose goal is Vršič pass as a starting point for panoramic views and hiking and alpinism. The carriageway renovation will bring increased traffic safety, the directorate is convinced.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the introduction of barrier system in the valleys on both sides of the pass. The traffic regime should be such that driving over the pass is possible at any time, but stopping at the top of the pass only if free parking spaces are available.
Currently, project documentation for the barriers is being prepared within two separate project tasks, one for the Kranjska Gora side and the other for the Trenta side. Implementation of public procurement for barrier installation is planned in the first half of this year. If all consents are obtained in time, construction start is planned for this autumn, works expected to be completed next year.
As Kranjska Gora mayor Henrika Zupan said, in this year's summer season, when traffic calming on Vršič has not yet been implemented, the municipalities of Kranjska Gora and Bovec will again manage traffic at the pass themselves at the peak of the summer season. It was the same last year when they successfully prevented queues at the pass with a marshalling service.
Meanwhile, discussions continue on arranging the traffic regime in Vrata Valley, where an automatic barrier was installed last autumn but cannot be used until an agreement on the regime is reached. The mayor explained that they meet monthly with directorate representatives and talks are intensively ongoing. "We sincerely hope that by the end of May we will already have trial operation of the barrier," she said.
At the directorate, they explained that they are aligning the final details regarding the traffic regime. An order for implementing a turning bay before the barrier is being prepared, as well as legal bases for enforcing the traffic regime, namely the traffic restriction decree, municipal ordinance, and state road categorization regulation. The new traffic regime will presumably be established before the main tourist season.
Source:
https://www.24ur.com/novice/slovenija/na-vrsicu-bo-po-rekonstrukciji-ceste-258-parkirnih-mest-manj.html