Raz: D1 to Ukraine Might Be Included among Defence and Security Expenditure

Bratislava, November 13 (TASR) - A project to extend the D1 motorway up to the border with Ukraine might be included among defence and security expenditures, Transport Minister Jozef Raz (a Smer-SD nominee) said following the Cabinet session on Wednesday, adding that they're intensively discussing the issue with the Defence Ministry. "Concerning the D1 to the Zemplin area, or to Ukraine, we're holding intensive talks with the Defence Ministry that promised us to include this investment among defence and security expenditure," said Raz, adding that they could cover the project preparation from this money. Raz stated that they are also seeking other options to finance transport investments, including, for example, the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). According to the minister, the money for the project preparation of the R4 dual carriageway has already been allocated to the Transport Ministry from this fund. The government on Wednesday approved the extension of the D1 motorway from Bidovce (Kosice region) up to the state border with Ukraine, as well as building of the R4 section from Lipniky (Presov region) up to the state border with Poland as strategic investments. "Bratislava Region governor Juraj Droba has an ambition to submit his bypass under the Carpathians as a strategic investment through our ministry as well," said Raz, adding that these are the last projects to be proposed as strategic investments within the TEN-T corridors and highway network. ko/mcs