Modernisation of 160 kilometres of D1 motorway has finished2/10/2021|Press releasesAfter eight years, the last narrowing measures on D1 motorway between Mirošovice and Kývalka disappeared. More than 10 construction companies worked under full traffic and built brand new 160 kilometres of the motorway. Over 1,000 workers and tens of machines were working at one time, some works were done also during nights. Finishing D1 motorway means that drivers can get from Prague to Brno in two hours without speed limits or traffic lanes narrowing. “I would like to thank all drivers for their patience. This day marks the end to yearly traffic hell caused by a necessary modernisation, which in fact was a construction of a new motorway under full operation. No more driving in traffic jams or narrowing, we have fixed our busiest motorway”, said the Minister of Transport Karel Havlíček. Modernisation of D1 between Mirošovice (Exit 21) and Kývalka (Exit 182) launched in May 2013 and took nine construction seasons. The motorway was broadened by 0.75 meters on each side, which significantly increases safety of vehicles parked in hard shoulders. It also allows to continue with traffic in 2+2 lane regime in case of a closure of one carriageway. “A total reconstruction of 160 kilometres of D1 has been done in both directions, including 82 bridges and 35 flyovers, junctions, diverge and merge lanes, median strips, drainage system and rest areas. We added telematics technology and installed 160 kilometres long optical fibre cable”, said Radek Mátl, Director General of Road and Motorway Directorate. Installation of new crash barriers, modernisation of the current emergency system and construction of boundary fences significantly increased safety. By adding noise cancelling technology and constructing 4 new wildlife crossings, the negative impacts of the motorway on the environment will be lowered. The total construction cost for 20 sections is CZK 26.3 billion (incl. VAT). In comparison to a similar price level of 2012, the current construction costs are by CZK 2 billion lower than previously approved. One kilometre of D1 motorway cost CZK 136 million (excl. VAT). The European Union provided 80 % of funds for 17 sections of D1 from the Operational Programme Transport.