Construction connecting the D3 motorway in the Czech Republic and Austria’s S10 motorway should be completed by 2021, according to Czech Transport Minister Antonín Prachař and Austrian Regional Governor Josef Pühringer. Prachař said that the D3 to České Budějovice will be completed by 2018.
However, the weekly magazine Echo has warned that this deadline is merely an empty promise, as the state failed to secure the approval of an EIA study, following changes to the project. While proceeding without the study is technically possible, the project would no longer qualify for EU funding that is crucial for its completion.
Construction is expected to cost CZK 80bn. Only a 42 km section of the motorway, connecting Mezno and Veselí nad Lužnicí, has been completed. The politicians also discussed a rail connection between Prague and Linz via České Budějovice. Pühringer said that the rail corridor to České Budějovice is scheduled for completion in 2018. The next section will stretch to Summerau.
