Audit Office finds shortcomings in construction of D1 highway

The Supreme Audit Office (NKU) has identified several shortcomings in preparation works for constructing the Triblavina D1 motorway intersection near Bratislava, including a lack of detailed traffic analyses and the absence of instruments for proper traffic planning, NKU spokesperson Daniela Bolech Dobáková announced on Monday. "The internal control system of the National Highway Company (NDS) wasn't working optimally, instead displaying elements of formalness, so the company wasn't able to identify the issues itself. The work that had actually been carried out until December 31, 2016 was worth around €3.7 million compared to the planned €14.7 million," said Bolech Dobáková, adding that the deadline for finishing the construction on May 13, 2017 is not likely to be met. The delay was mainly due to the fact that the entities concerned obviously underestimated the amount of time that was necessary for the preparation phase and for the public procurement. "The inspectors also noted that changing the D1 concept by expanding it from a six-lane road with parallel communications to an eight-lane road without parallel communications wasn't in line with the Bratislava region's Territorial Planning existing at the time of the audit," added the spokesperson. The National Highway Company has not commented on the Supreme Audit Office's findings.