SaS Criticizes Transport Ministry Over Road Construction Schedule

The SaS party has sharply criticized the Ministry of Transport's updated roadmap for road infrastructure projects, alleging a betrayal of the ministry's own priorities established in 2020. At a press conference, SaS transport expert Peter Báthory highlighted three highway sections on the D1 in eastern Slovakia, Dargov-Pozdišovce, Pozdišovce-Sobrance, and Bidovce-Dargov, which he claims have been pushed back to after 2032 in the new schedule.

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Three projects from the top 15 have been postponed by the ministry, while sections that were originally ranked 74th, 86th, 89th, or 92nd are being moved to the forefront.

Báthory argued that the ministry is prioritizing less critical sections, moving projects ranked 74th, 86th, 89th, and 92nd in the original plan to the forefront. "If the state sets priorities and then ignores them, the whole system loses its meaning," Báthory stated, suggesting that decisions are now based on political expediency rather than national needs.

Financial concerns were also raised, with Báthory questioning the funding for the proposed schedule, which estimates investments around 20 billion euros. "The ministry counts on investments exceeding two billion euros annually. After three consolidation packages, record state debt, and in a situation where we cannot even fully utilize EU funds, it is completely legitimate to ask where the government intends to get this money from," he said.

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If the state sets priorities and then ignores them, the whole system loses its meaning. Then, planning according to Slovakia's needs no longer applies, but according to current political decisions.

Peter Čech, SaS regional chairman for the Košice region, emphasized that the issue extends beyond a single highway, questioning Slovakia's long-term infrastructure development plan and whether state priorities shift with each ministerial appointment.

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The ministry counts on investments exceeding two billion euros annually. After three consolidation packages, record state debt, and in a situation where we cannot even fully utilize EU funds, it is completely legitimate to ask where the government intends to get this money from.

The Ministry of Transport responded that the schedule is not a priority list but a "calendar" that accounts for the current preparation status of projects. Spokesperson Petra Poláčiková reiterated that the main priorities remain unchanged: D1 Bratislava-Košice, D3, and R4. She noted that EU funds are currently financing the D3 and several bypasses, but future projects will heavily rely on the state budget as EU funding models shift away from traditional road infrastructure.

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We want to talk about whether Slovakia even has a long-term plan for the development of transport infrastructure and whether the state follows its own priorities, or if they change depending on who is currently sitting in the ministerial chair.