A11 (Croatia)

A11 motorway shield

A11 motorway
Autocesta A11
Autocesta Zagreb - Sisak

Map key - green in use Map key - red under construction Map key - violet planned
Map key - blue other motorways
Route information
Length: 9.0 km (5.6 mi)
47.8 km (29.7 mi) planned
Major junctions
North end: D31 near Velika Gorica
South end: D30 in Buševec exit
Location
Counties: Zagreb
Major cities: Velika Gorica
Highway system
Motorways in Croatia

The A11 motorway (Croatian: Autocesta A11) is an incomplete motorway in Croatia, 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) long. It connects Velika Gorica, located south of Zagreb to Buševec exit. Only a fifth of the planned 47.8-kilometre (29.7 mi) route is complete, and the motorway, when completed, shall span between Jakuševec interchange and Mošćenica near Sisak. The motorway is planned as a significant north–south transportation corridor, especially to commuter traffic between Velika Gorica and Zagreb and between Sisak and Zagreb, with a positive economic impact on the cities and towns along the A11 route.

The A11 motorway tender procedures and construction works were initiated in 2006. After several delays attributed to planning and land ownership issues, as well as funding and lack of political support, the first section of the A11 was opened in 2009, just 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) long. The delays continued to hinder progress of development of the route, and in 2010 construction works were restarted. The A11 motorway construction was criticized as too expensive in comparison to other Croatian motorways and as a site of political promotion and bickering. As of September 2011, the A11 still remains with no direct connection to the remainder of the national motorway network as the Jakuševec interchange, designed to serve as its connection to the A3 motorway, is still incomplete after years of construction works. As of 2010, the motorway is scheduled to be completed by 2012.

The motorway consists of two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each driving direction separated by a central reservation. Both intersections of the A11 motorway are grade separated. As of September 2011, there are two exits along the route, and no rest areas. The motorway is not tolled at the time, however when completed, the sections south of Velika Gorica are planned to be tolled using a ticket system and the remainder shall be toll-free as a part of the Zagreb bypass motorway system.

Route description

An aerial view of motorway cloverleaf interchage
Velika Gorica jug interchange

The A11 motorway is an incomplete north–south motorway in Croatia, spanning D30 and D31 state roads south of Velika Gorica.[1] The designed motorway route is of regional importance as it is planned to gradually take over traffic from state road network in the area, especially the D30 which carries a significant commuter traffic volume between Zagreb, Velika Gorica and Sisak. As of September 2011, mere 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) of the route are open to traffic, connecting the D31 and the D30 roads at Velika Gorica and Buševec exits respectively. The two are the only exits opened on the motorway. The D30 and the D31 have a shared intersection in Velika Gorica itself, providing an alternative route to the motorway section.[2][3] Legally designated termini of the A11 motorway are the Jakuševec interchange on the Zagreb bypass and Sisak.[4]

The A11 motorway has at least two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each direction along its entire length. The Velika Gorica interchange is a cloverleaf interchange, and the Buševec exit comprises a trumpet interchange. As of September 2011, the A11 route also comprises Mraclin mainline toll plaza, which is not operating as the motorway is not tolled at this time, and there are no rest areas.[5]

An automatic traffic monitoring and guidance system is in place along the motorway. It consists of measuring, control and signaling devices located in zones where driving conditions may vary, such as at interchanges, viaducts, bridges and zones where fog and strong wind are known to occur. The system uses variable traffic signs to communicate changing driving conditions, possible restrictions and other information to motorway users.[6] The A11 motorway mainly runs through a plain, south of Sava River, requiring no major structures except for the exit interchanges themselves.

History

An aerial view of motorway cloverleaf interchange and airport runway
Velika Gorica jug interchange and the A11 route (bottom) approaching the A3 motorway (left) as it passes Zagreb Airport

The Zagreb–Sisak motorway was defined as a priority traffic route by the Government of Croatia in Motorway development plan for the 2005–2008 period. The route defined at the time fully complied with county development plans, except in a 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) segment south of the Zagreb bypass, which required changes of the spatial planning documents of the City of Zagreb and the Zagreb County.[7] Hrvatske autoceste developed a preliminary study of the route, proposing to connect the A11 to Zagreb at the Zagreb bypass and the Sarajevska Road, requiring a tunnel below Zagreb railway shunting yard. The plan also requires moving the A3 motorway Buzin interchange approximately 2.5 kilometres (1.6 miles) to the west. The plans refer to the moved interchange as Sveta Klara interchange.[8] That scheme planned completion of the motorway to the south of Velika Gorica by 2007, to Lekenik by 2008 and later on to Sisak. At the time the cost of the first section between Velika Gorica and Buševec was estimated at 328 million kuna (44.3 million euro), and the extension to Lekenik was valued at 586 million kuna (79.1 million euro).[9] In February and March 2006, Government of Croatia performed tender procedure for the 8.3-kilometre (5.2 mi) northernmost section of the A11 spanning the Jakuševec interchange and the Velika Gorica jug exit. At the time, the cost of the section was estimated at 770 million kuna (104 million euro) and the construction works were scheduled to be completed by June 15, 2007.[10] On April 4, commencement of the works between the Velika Gorica jug interchange and Hrašće Turopoljsko was announced. The contract was won by a joint venture comprising Viadukt, Hidroelektra, Konstruktor and Strabag, at a price of 202 million kuna (27.3 million euro) without VAT, and the works were scheduled to be completed by June 15, 2007.[11]

The first indication of delays came in March 2007, when the national government started trading accusations with authorities of the Zagreb County. The government accused the county authorities of willfully slowing down the project as the county failed to adopt required amendments of their spatial planning documents. In turn, the county accused the government of insufficient project funding and that accusations levied by the central government were intended to disguise lack of money.[12] This situation led to announcements made in 2008, that the motorway would be built from the direction of Sisak, however that was not immediately feasible as land was not purchased and construction design had to be adjusted. Even so, the works were announced to start north of Sisak at the beginning of 2009.[13] The plan to start construction in 2009 from Sisak were confirmed in July 2008, when Hrvatske autoceste denied rumors that the route may be shortened to the northern outskirts of Sisak, instead of Mošćenica suburb of Petrinja located immediately to the south of Sisak.[14] By August 2008, planning of a tunnel under Zagreb shunting yard was abandoned in favor of a viaduct extending to the north of the planned Jakuševec interchange. Construction of the latter started shortly afterwards, but as of September 2011 it is still in progress, at an ostensibly slow pace.[15]

On May 9, 2009, the first section of the A11 motorway was completed and opened to traffic, spanning Velika Gorica and Buševec exits. The section is 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) long, and contains 6 bridges, 4 flyovers, 2 wildlife crossings, a viaduct and an underpass. Total cost of the section was reported to be 657 million kuna (88.8 million euro). At the opening ceremony, it was announced that the entire route between Zagreb and Mošćenica shall be completed by 2011.[16] In May 2009, new construction contracts were made for the Buševec–Sisak section of the route, only to be cancelled in September of the same year. The cancellation was attributed to change of funding sources and models, and new contracts were announced for November 2009.[17]

Since the opening of the first A11 motorway section, the project was criticized by political opposition parties as excessively expensive, citing estimated cost of 14.8 million euro per kilometer and comparing it to cost of somewhat more than 4 million euro per kilometer cost of the A1 motorway to Split. Hrvatske autoceste, operator of the motorway, defended the price as a result of unfavorable, silty ground along the route requiring large quantities of backfill and transportation of the backfill material.[18][19] Furthermore, Hrvatske autoceste rejected the claims of cost per kilometer of the A11 and the A1. The company which operates both of the motorways claimed that the average price of the A1 motorway was 7.1 million euro per kilometer and that the average cost per kilometer of the A11 stands at 11.3 million euro, further citing high transport cost of the backfill material caused by remote location of the closest quarry which is approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) away.[20] Construction of the A11 motorway was also criticized as an example of interference of politics in road construction, where construction sites are perceived as generally serving as ribbon-cutting ceremony sites during election campaigns.[21]

Further construction

As of September 2011, approximately one fifth of the A11 motorway route is completed, and the completed section is not directly connected to the Croatian motorway system. This is planned to be achieved through the Jakuševec interchange, which is under construction as a part of the 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) Jakuševec–Velika Gorica jug section of the A11. The section spans Zagreb suburban area and its completion was repeatedly delayed due to changes of legislation, land acquisition and funding issues.[15][22] Various parts of the section have reached different stages of completion depending on resolution of those issues, especially land ownership and planning documents.[8]

Construction works on the 11.2-kilometre (7.0 mi) Buševec–Lekenik section, immediately to the south of the completed portion of the A11 motorway were commenced in April 2010, when completion of the section was announced for 2011. The section shall require construction of two bridges, six flyovers, four culverts, Lekenik toll plaza and Peščenica rest area. The construction works contract was awarded to Konstruktor, Hidroelektra and Osijek Koteks. Value of the contract works is 645 million kuna (87.1 million euro), including VAT.[23][24] In Lekenik–Sisak section, preparatory works commenced, entailing relocation of utilities along the planned motorway route.[25] In May 2012, Hrvatske autoceste proposed cancellation of construction works south of Lekenik.[26]

In April 2010, the entire 47.9-kilometre (29.8 mi) A11 motorway route between Zagreb bypass and Sisak was planned to be completed within two and a half years, at a cost of 5.1 billion kuna (689 million euro).[24] When completed, the A11 shall be tolled between Velika Gorica jug exit and Sisak, unlike the sections between Velika Gorica jug and Jakuševec interchanges which shall remain toll free as a part of the Zagreb bypass.[27] The existing section of the A11 is planned to be tolled, however it was announced that the section shall remain toll-free until the Velika Gorica jug–Jakuševec section is completed.[16] Ultimately, when completed the A11 is planned to have eight interchanges, and the most significant structures on the route shall include a 550-metre (1,800 ft) Odra Bridge also spanning a railway and a road, a 280-metre (920 ft) bridge crossing the Sava-Odra Canal, a 270-metre (890 ft) arch bridge spanning the Kupa River, and a 750-metre (2,460 ft) viaduct in addition to the 710-metre (2,330 ft) one required to be built north of the Jakuševec interchange, acrosss Zagreb shunting yard.[28]

Traffic volume

Traffic is regularly counted and reported by Hrvatske autoceste, operator of the motorway, and results are published by Hrvatske ceste. In 2010, the only traffic count site on the A11 motorway route was located between the only two opened interchanges of the motorway—Velika Gorica jug and Buševec. annual average daily traffic (AADT) recorded at the site amounts to 1,442 vehicles, while average summer daily traffic (ASDT) traffic volume is approximately 10% greater at 1,589 vehicles.[29]

The section of the A11 between Velika Gorica jug and Jakuševec interchanges, which is as of September 2011 still under construction, is expected to carry substantially increased volume of traffic compared to the existing A11 route because it is expected to take over a significant portion of the D30 state road. The D30 state road, parallel to the Jakuševec–Velika Gorica jug section of the A11 carries AADT of 39,413 vehicles, measured at Velika Mlaka north of Velika Gorica.[29]

A11 traffic volume details
Road Counting site AADT ASDT Notes
A11 2031 Velika Gorica 1,442 1,589 Between Velika Gorica and Buševec interchanges.

Exit list

County km Exit Name[30] Destination[2] Notes[31]
City of Zagreb 0.0 1 Jakuševec A3
E65
E70
E71		 Connection to the A3 motorway and the Zagreb bypass; Under construction
1.0 2 Odra-Mlaka Connection to Odra and Mlaka; Under construction
Zagreb County 2.3 3 Velika Gorica sjever (north) D30 Connection to Velika Gorica; Under construction
8.7 4 Velika Gorica jug (south) D31 Connection to Velika Gorica
As of September 2011, the northern terminus of the motorway
12.1 Mraclin toll plaza Completed but not operating
18.1 5 Buševec Ž3116 Connection to Buševec and the D30 state road
As of September 2011, the southern terminus of the motorway
Sisak-Moslavina 29.4 6 Lekenik D30
Ž3230		 Connection to Lekenik; Under construction
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Unopened

See also

Sources

  1. ↑ "Overview of motorways and semi-motorways". HUKA. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Odluka o razvrstavanju javnih cesta u državne ceste, županijske ceste i lokalne ceste" [Decision on categorisation of public roads as state roads, county roads and local roads]. Narodne Novine (in Croatian). February 17, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
  3. ↑ Overview map of the A11 (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Odluka o izmjenama i dopunama odluke o razvrstavanju javnih cesta u autoceste" [Decision on amendments and additions to decision on classification of public roads as motorways] (in Croatian). Narodne novine. January 23, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Croatian Motorways". Hrvatske autoceste. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  6. ↑ Croatian Motorways (PDF). Hrvatske autoceste. 2007. pp. 130–133. ISBN 978-953-7491-09-3. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  7. ↑ Dean Sinovčić (3 April 2006). "Dva autoputa za preporod Velike Gorice" [Two motorways for revival of Velika Gorica] (in Croatian). Nacional. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Živo graditeljsko proljeće" [Lively construction spring] (in Croatian). Radio Velika Gorica. April 16, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  9. ↑ Mirjana Sošić (February 17, 2006). "Iz Siska u Zagreb ipak tunelom ispod zagrebačkoga ranžirnog kolodvora" [From Sisak to Zagreb through a tunnel under Zagreb shunting yard after all] (in Croatian). Poslovni dnevnik. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  10. ↑ M. Piškor (March 24, 2006). "Autocesta Zagreb-Sisak: Šest ponuda za gradnju prve dionice" [Zagreb-Sisak motorway: Six tenders to build the first section]. Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  11. ↑ Dalibor Klobučar (April 4, 2006). "Sutra otvaranje radova na autocesti Zagreb - Sisak" [Zagreb-Sisak motorway construction works start tomorrow] (in Croatian). Poslovni dnevnik. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  12. ↑ Tomislav Kukec (March 7, 2007). "HDZ: Picula koči gradnju A11" [Croatian Democratic Union: Picula slows down construction of the A11]. Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  13. ↑ Mate Piškor (April 8, 2008). "Autocesta Zagreb - Sisak gradit će se iz smjera Siska" [Zagreb-Sisak motorway shall be built from direction of Sisak]. Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Gradnja autoceste Zagreb-Sisak počinje u proljeće 2009." [Construction of the Zagreb-Sisak motorway starts in the spring of 2009] (in Croatian). Nova TV. July 25, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Gradi se novi južni ulaz u Zagreb s dva čvorišta" [A new southern entrance to Zagreb, comprising two interchanges, is under construction] (in Croatian). Nova TV. August 11, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Predsjednik Vlade svečano otvorio dionicu autoceste Zagreb-Sisak između Velike Gorice i Buševca" [Prime minister ceremonially opens Zagreb-Sisak motorway section between Velika Gorica and Buševec] (in Croatian). Government of Croatia. May 9, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  17. ↑ Mate Piškor (September 4, 2009). "Raskidaju se ugovori o gradnji: Je li kriza pojela autocestu do Siska?" [Construction contracts cancelled: Has the recession taken the Sisak motorway away?]. Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Autocesta Zagreb-Sisak tri puta skuplja od Dalmatine!" [Zagreb-Sisak motorway three times more expensive than Dalmatina!] (in Croatian). Nova TV. April 9, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Kalmetin proračun: Autocesta Zagreb – Sisak triput skuplja od Dalmatine" [Kalmeta's budget: Zagreb-Sisak motorway three times more expensive than Dalmatina] (in Croatian). Nacional. April 9, 2010. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Demantij iz HAC-a: 'Dalmatina nije tri puta skuplja od autoceste Zagreb-Sisak' [sic!]" [Hrvatske autoceste denies: Dalmatina is not three times more expensive than the Zagreb-Sisak motorway [sic!]] (in Croatian). Nacional. April 9, 2010. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  21. ↑ Gordan Zubčić (February 14, 2011). "Država utrošila 2 milijarde kn za mostove i ceste prema ledinama" [Government spends 2 billion kuna for bridges and roads to meadows]. Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian). Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  22. ↑ Ivan Pandžić (March 7, 2011). "Pred izbore opet buja gradnja autocesta iako su planovi 'klimavi'" [Motorway construction flourishes again ahead of elections even though the plans are 'unstable'] (in Croatian). Poslovni dnevnik. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Kosor: 'Gradnjom autocesta spriječit ćemo da graditeljstvo padne na koljena'" [Kosor: 'Motorway construction to prevent failure of civil engineering sector'] (in Croatian). Nacional. April 6, 2010. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Predsjednica Vlade obišla gradilište na autocesti Zagreb-Sisak" [Prime minister tours Zagreb-Sisak motorway construction site] (in Croatian). Government of Croatia. April 6, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Planovi pripremnih mjera i aktivnosti za turističku sezonu 2011." [Plans for preparatory measures and activities for 2011 tourist season] (PDF) (in Croatian). Hrvatske autoceste. September 17, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  26. ↑ Krešimir Žabec (1 May 2012). "HAC odustaje od projekata vrijednih 9,5 milijardi kuna koje je naredio Ivo Sanader" [Hrvatske autoceste cancelling projects worth 9.5 billion kuna, ordered by Ivo Sanader]. Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 8 May 2012.
  27. ↑ Iva Puljić-Šego (August 8, 2007). "Gradnja dionice od Jakuševca do Kušanca počinje u listopadu (preuzeto iz Večenjeg lista)" [Construction of Jakuševec-Kušanec section starts in October (taken from the Večernji list)] (in Croatian). Independent Road-workers Union. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Nastavak radova na autocesti Zagreb-Sisak na dionici Buševec –Lekenik" [Zagreb-Sisak motorway Buševec-Lekenik section works resumed] (in Croatian). Hrvatske autoceste. April 6, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 "Brojanje prometa na cestama Republike Hrvatske godine 2010." [Traffic counting on the roadways of Croatia in 2010 - digest] (PDF). Hrvatske ceste. May 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2011.
  30. ↑ "Regulation on motorway markings, chainage, interchange/exit/rest area numbers and names". Narodne novine (in Croatian). April 24, 2003.
  31. ↑ "Autoceste" [Motorways] (in Croatian). Hrvatske autoceste. Retrieved September 19, 2011.