March 28, 2019 – The project to connect the two parts of Croatia is on track – the latest from the Peljesac Bridge.
It is the project that many thought would never happen. After more than a decade of political promises and announcements, many Croatians doubted that the strategically important Peljesac Bridge project would ever come to fruition.
Strategically important because without it, Croatia is a country of two parts, physically separated by the Neum Corridor, also known as the Bosnian Riviera – a 23 km coastal strip which physically separates Dubrovnik and southern Dalmatia from the rest of the country. The bridge connecting the mainland to the Peljesac Peninsula will fix that problem, finally connecting the modern Croatian state for the first time.
And after years of delay, indecision and political wrangling, the Chinese consortium which won the tender to build the bridge is proceeding well. Current progress is ahead of schedule, according to sources I spoke to on the project, with completion still set for July 31, 2021, which will be a game-changer for tourism in the region.
The lead photo was taken today and shows 12 new vessels coming to construction site with the Zhen Hua 34 submersible ship on the right.
The steel piles for the bridge’s foundations are coming from China, with 5 of the 6 ships bringing them already in Croatia, the last one due in Ploce on April 15.
There will be a total of 146 permanent piles for the foundations, with some up to 130m, among the longest in the world for this type of pile-driving technology.
There is still a LONG way to go with the project, but for those who are desperately waiting for a unified Croatia, the project seems to be proceeding well and the dream looks like it will become a reality in just over two years.
We will try and bring you regular updates on progress. You can follow the latest news on the TCN dedicated section on the Peljesac Bridge.
