An exceptional ceremony deep inside the tunnel

On 18 September, the second tube of the Ucka tunnel, a major structure in the fifth phase (2B2-1) of the Istria motorway project, made its final breakthrough. The ceremony, held deep inside the tunnel, was attended by Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenković, President of the Croatian Parliament, Gordan Jandroković, Croatian Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Oleg Butković, and Minister of Construction, Branko Bačić, as well as Jean-Philippe Trin, Deputy CEO of Bouygues Construction and Chairman of Bouygues Travaux Publics, and Bertrand Burtschell, CEO of Bouygues Travaux Publics.

In all, more than 400 people gathered on site to take part in this event inside the tunnel.  

Excavation work completed for the tunnel  

This event marks the end of excavation work to double this 6-kilometre tunnel and create over a kilometre of galleries connecting to the existing tunnel. The Ucka tunnel, which beneath the Ucka mountains, is located between the municipality of Vranja and the Bay of Kvarner and is the only access route linking the Istrian peninsula with the rest of Croatia. The first tube, inaugurated in 1981, remained open to traffic throughout the works, which was a challenge for our teams. They are now continuing to work on the concrete lining of the tunnel, and will shortly be able to start on the electromechanical equipment and pavements. 

For more than 25 years, Bouygues Travaux Publics teams have been involved in the construction of this motorway, a mobility project serving the development of Croatian communities. And the story is not finished: Bina Istra has renewed its confidence in Bouygues Travaux Publics for two new phases, which will double the size of the entire road infrastructure.