Reconstruction of the street towards the port of Novalja

The ceremony of signing the contract for the reconstruction of Primorska Street as an access road to the port of Novalja was recently held in the City Hall of the City of Novalja. The contract is signed by the Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković, together with the Director of the Central Agency for Financing and Contracting, Tomislav Petric and the Mayor of the City of Novalja, Ivan Dab.

This important project for Novalja, but also Lika-Senj County, is mostly co-financed by European funds where the eligible costs of the project, amounting to HRK 28.5 million, are financed in 85% of the Cohesion Fund in the amount of 24.2 million, and the rest from the State Budget in the amount of 4.3 million.

The project involves the reconstruction of Primorska Street, which is an access road and also the only exit and entrance to the port. With the realization of this project, Primorska Street will become a two-way road with the improved road, precipitation, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. Also, this project envisages the installation of modern solar benches and solar bus stops for buses running on the street. Moreover, horizontal signage that will facilitate access for people with special needs is planned, as well as a horticultural intervention to preserve biodiversity.

It is important to note that this road passes along the coast through the town of Novalja, where it was detected that 74% of the other streets of the city do not meet the required standards of traffic flow and adequately addressed traffic infrastructure during congestion during the tourist season. That is why the Ministry of Investment has focused on such projects that will reduce road congestion but will also increase the safety of all road users.

Through this project, parking will be redefined and new parking spaces will be built in order to reduce the traffic load in the city centre. Also, the improvement of traffic flow will facilitate access to the port of Novalja, which will improve the traffic connection of all residents of Novalja, especially those who travel to the mainland every day for work, education, health care and other life reasons.

Continued investment in port infrastructure throughout the Adriatic

It is also significant that this project is part of a large investment cycle of investment in island connectivity and reconstruction of small coastal ports, which the Ministry launched four years ago. These are investments that exceeded the amount of 2 billion kuna, both European and state funds. All projects are funded at 100% where 85% of the funds are provided from the Cohesion Fund and while the rest goes from the Ministry’s budget. Most of the contracted projects have started to be realized and the works are in full swing.

It should also be noted that the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure in the Lika-Senj County has provided European funds for another important project for the reconstruction and extension of the ferry port Žigljen. It is one of the busiest ferry lines on the Adriatic, Žigljen – Prizna, where the ferry is currently sailing unhindered, despite extensive work as part of this project being carried out at the port on the Pag side. The port of Žigljen is being arranged and upgraded with new ramps that will enable the docking of two large ferries and the simultaneous embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and vehicles. The project will improve the connection between Novalja and the island of Pag, and through that greater security, greater capacity and reduced congestion at the port.

Source: Morski.hr