Sljeme Chairlift Delayed Again, Costs Rise Above 13 Million Euros

Construction of Zagreb's new Sljeme chairlift faces further delays and increased costs. The project, which was initially slated for completion by January and later promised by summer, is now expected to be finished by August 8. This marks another setback for the much-anticipated upgrade.

The contract with contractors Strucon from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Novi Volvox from Montenegro has seen a significant price hike. Originally signed at 12.5 million euros including VAT, the cost has risen by over 700,000 euros to 13,210,585 euros. This increase is attributed to changes in the contract with a subcontractor.

Work on the chairlift, which was supposed to begin last August, has been plagued by delays due to expert assessments, public procurement processes, and the need to obtain various permits and approvals. These included rights of servitude from the Ministry of Agriculture, a building permit from Zagreb County, and consents from the Medvednica Nature Park, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and Hrvatske Šume.

Initially, the new four-seater chairlift was intended to replace the old one, which was severely damaged during a severe storm on July 19, 2023. City officials decided against repairing the old lift, as similar three-seater models are no longer produced and repairs would be uneconomical. The new chairlift will cover a vertical rise of approximately 300 meters and have a capacity of 2,000 skiers per hour. Deputy Mayor Luka Korlaet had previously expressed ambitions for the chairlift to operate year-round, accommodating not only skiers but also hikers and cyclists with specially designed bike carriers, enhancing its utility beyond the winter season.

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We expect the cable car to be finished and operational by summer so that it can, and this is our great wish and ambition, operate year-round, not just for skiers, but also for hikers and cyclists, because these seats will be equipped with an additional bike carrier on the back, so we expect our fellow citizens to use it outside the ski season.