A1 (Croatia)

The A6 motorway branching off in Bosiljevo 2 interchange

The A1 motorway (Croatian: Autocesta A1) is a major north–south motorway in Croatia connecting the capital of the country, Zagreb, to the Dalmatia region, where the motorway follows a route parallel to the Adriatic coast. As a part of the road network of Croatia, it is a part of two major European routes: E65 Prague–Bratislava–Zagreb–Rijeka–Split–Dubrovnik and E71 Budapest–Zagreb–Karlovac–Bihać–Knin–Split.[2][3] The motorway is of major importance to Croatia in terms of development of the economy; especially tourism and as a transit transport route. This has been reflected by an accelerated development of regions connected by the A1 motorway.[4] A part of the motorway is considered to be a segment of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway.[5] Once the latter motorway's connecting sections are completed, those currently spanned just by the Adriatic Highway as well as two-lane roads in Slovenia and Albania, the A1 will achieve genuine importance as a transit route.[6]

The motorway spans 476.3 kilometers (296.0 mi) between Zagreb (Lučko interchange) and Ploče via Split. The route serves Karlovac via D1, Gospić via D534, Zadar via D8 and D424 and Šibenik via D533. The A1 motorway consists of two traffic lanes and an emergency lane in each driving direction along its entire length. The sole exception is Drežnik Viaduct where there are no emergency lanes.[7] Almost all of the existing interchanges are trumpet interchanges, except for Lučko which is a stack. There are numerous rest areas along the motorway, providing various types of services ranging from simple parking spaces and restrooms to petrol stations, restaurants and hotels.[8][9][10] As of 2011, the motorway has 33 interchanges, providing access to numerous towns and cities and the Croatian state road network.[1] The ultimate southern terminus of the motorway has been established to be near Dubrovnik.[11]

Approach to Drežnik Viaduct

Between the Lučko and Bosiljevo 2 interchanges, the motorway follows Pan-European corridor Vb, and is concurrent with the Zagreb–Rijeka motorway.[12] The Bosiljevo 2 interchange distributes southbound A1 traffic flowing to Rijeka (via the A6 motorway) and to Split. That 67-kilometer (42 mi) segment of the motorway is operated by Autocesta Rijeka–Zagreb,[13] while the remainder of the motorway is operated by Hrvatske autoceste.[14][15][16]

An automatic traffic monitoring and guidance system is in place along the motorway. It consists of measuring, control and signaling devices, located in zones where driving conditions may vary—at interchanges, near viaducts, bridges, tunnels, and in zones where fog and strong wind are known to occur. The system comprises variable traffic signs used to communicate changing driving conditions, possible restrictions and other information to motorway users.[17]

It serves, either directly or via connecting roads, a large number of tourist destinations such as Bjelolasica in Gorski Kotar,[18] a large number of Adriatic Sea resorts and several national parks and nature parks. In Lika region those are Plitvice Lakes National Park, Sjeverni Velebit National Park and Velebit Nature Park, while in Dalmatia the motorway serves Paklenica National Park, Telašćica Nature Park, Kornati National Park, Lake Vrana Nature Park, Krka National Park and Biokovo Nature Park. The route also provides links to a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Plitvice Lakes, Šibenik Cathedral of St James, Palace of Diocletian in Split and the Historic City of Trogir.[19][20]

Ravča toll plaza

The A1 is a tolled motorway based on the vehicle classification in Croatia using a closed toll system integrated with the A6 motorway as the two connect in the Bosiljevo 2 interchange forming a unified toll system. Since the two motorways are operated by Autocesta Rijeka — Zagreb and Hrvatske autoceste, the toll collection system is operated jointly by the two operators.[21] The toll is payable in Croatian kuna, euro, major credit and debit cards and using a number of prepaid toll collection systems including various types of smart cards issued by the motorway operators and ENC – an electronic toll collection (ETC) which is shared at all motorways in Croatia (except the A2 motorway) and provides drivers use of dedicated lanes at toll plazas and a discounted toll rates.[22]

The A1 north of the Bosiljevo 2 interchange is operated by Autocesta Rijeka — Zagreb and the rest is operated by Hrvatske autoceste, both of which do not report company toll income separately for individual sections of various motorways. Total toll income reported by Hrvatske autoceste in the first half of 2011 was 508.1 million kuna (68.3 million euro). This figure pertains to the A1 south of the Bosiljevo 2 interchange as well as all other motorways operated by Hrvatske autoceste, however the A1 represents the longest and the busiest tolled motorway operated by Hrvatske autoceste. Toll income reported by Autocesta Rijeka — Zagreb for the first half of 2011 is 191.2 million kuna (25.7 million euro). This sum includes company toll income generated elsewhere, however the A1 section represents the busiest section of the motorway network operated by Autocesta Rijeka — Zagreb. Hrvatske autoceste and Autocesta Rijeka — Zagreb reported increase of the toll income compared to the same period of 2010 of 2.2% and 5% respectively.[23][24][25]

Summertime and holiday queues at Lučko mainline toll plaza can be considerable, a problem exacerbated during the usual weekend-to-weekend tourist stays at Croatia's coastal resorts.[26] In 2009, in an effort to address the problem, the Lučko mainline toll plaza was expanded to 15 lanes, and a single additional 10-lane toll plaza was built for fast cashless toll collection in Demerje.[27] The Demerje toll plaza is available via a motorway fork accessible to the A1 northbound traffic only. Vehicles using the Demerje toll plaza default to the original motorway route immediately past the Lučko mainline toll plaza, between the plaza and the Lučko interchange. The faster cashless system has raised the nominal capacity of the road from 2,325 to 11,150 vehicles per hour.[28] As of September 2010 northbound traffic leaving the A1 must exit the tolled motorway network, since the existing Zagreb bypass is not tolled, and then re-enter another tolled motorway. There are plans for the outer Zagreb bypass to be integrated into the tolled motorway network, as the ultimate solution for congestion at the Lučko toll plaza. That will require construction of a Horvati interchange south of the Lučko toll plaza.[29]

Jezerane Viaduct

A total of 361 structures—bridges, viaducts, flyovers, underpasses, passages, wildlife crossings, and tunnels—have been completed on the motorway between Zagreb and Vrgorac, and calculations indicate that 18.6 percent of the route between Zagreb and Split is located on those structures, which is a quite considerable percentage for a motorway of this length.[19][30] By June 2011, Ravča-Vrgorac section was completed, including 5 viaducts, 4 flyovers and a tunnel.[31][32] An additional 15 structures were built on the section between Vrgorac and Ploče, plus on the connection towards the city of Ploče.[33][34]

Plasina Tunnel portal

As of September 2010, there are seven tunnels longer than 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) on the A1 motorway. The most notable among them are: the 5,821-meter (19,098 ft) long Mala Kapela Tunnel between Ogulin and Brinje interchanges and the 5,768-meter (18,924 ft) long Sveti Rok Tunnel between Sveti Rok and Maslenica interchanges. The Mala Kapela and Sveti Rok tunnels are not only the largest individual structures on the motorway but they are also the longest tunnels in Croatia. The tunnels separate three distinct climate zones. The Mala Kapela Tunnel spans between the continental climate of the central Croatia and the mountain climate of Lika, while the Sveti Rok Tunnel provides a link between Lika and its mountain climate and the Mediterranean climate of Dalmatia.[35] Both of the Mala Kapela and Sveti Rok tunnels were originally operated as single tubes when they were opened for traffic in June 2005 until 30 May 2009, when the second tubes of the tunnels were also opened for traffic.[36] The other major tunnels on the A1 motorway are the 2,300-meter (7,500 ft) long Plasina Tunnel situated between Otočac and Perušić interchanges and the Grič, Brinje and Konjsko tunnels. Lengths of the latter three range between 1,122 meters (3,681 ft) and 1,542 meters (5,059 ft).

Krka Bridge

The longest bridge on the A1 motorway is the 546-meter (1,791 ft) long Dobra Bridge spanning Dobra River near Karlovac. Other major bridges on the route are the Gacka, Miljanica and Dabar bridges—all of them longer than 350 meters (1,150 ft).[8] Also, the A1 motorway comprises the 391-meter (1,283 ft) long Krka Bridge spanning Krka River and the 378-meter (1,240 ft) long Maslenica Bridge spanning Novsko Ždrilo strait. The Maslenica and Krka bridges are particularly significant as their respective main spans are 200 m (660 ft) long.[37][38]

The A1 motorway also comprises the longest viaduct in Croatia — the 2,485-meter (8,153 ft) long Drežnik Viaduct situated between the Karlovac and Bosiljevo 1 interchanges.[39] As of 2011, there are six other major viaducts completed on the route–— the Kotezi Viaduct, Modruš 1, Mokro Polje, Jezerane, Srijane and Rašćane viaducts. All of them are longer than 500 meters (1,600 ft).[8] The latest significant viaduct completed as a part of the Ravča–Vrgorac section is the Kotezi Viaduct at 1,214 meters (3,983 ft), surpassing all other viaducts on the route except for Drežnik Viaduct.[32] A dispute concerning naming of the Viaduct arose one month prior to opening of the motorway section containing the viaduct, and the structure was even signposted as the Bunina Viaduct for several days in June 2011, only to revert the name to the Kotezi Viaduct days prior to the opening ceremony itself.[40][41][42][43] The section also comprises the 402-meter (1,319 ft) long Šare Viaduct.[40]

Lučko interchange

The A1 motorway was originally designed in the early 1970s, albeit along a different route than the present Zagreb–Split motorway route. After suppression of the Croatian Spring and removal of the Croatian leadership that proposed and adopted the construction plan in 1971, all the work related to the Zagreb–Split motorway was cancelled. The plans were revived in the 1990s and new designs were developed to include a motorway section built between Zagreb and Karlovac into the design so that the section could be shared between Zagreb–Split and Zagreb–Rijeka motorways. Construction work started in 2000 and the motorway reached Split by 2005 and was extended towards Dubrovnik later on. Both in the 1970s and in the 2000s, construction of the Zagreb–Split motorway was perceived to symbolize rebuilding of national unity.[44][45]

King Tomislav Motorway

The oldest section of the A1 motorway, near Karlovac

The Zagreb–Split motorway, now the A1 motorway, was one of three routes defined by the Parliament of the Socialist Republic of Croatia on 5 March 1971, as priority transport routes of Croatia that were to be developed as motorways. Originally the motorway was designed to follow a route from Zagreb to Bihać (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and then to Split via Knin. The government of Bosnia and Herzegovina issued its approval for the route in Bihać region in the same year. Construction of the motorway was initiated by a fundraising effort — a public loan. The funds gathered initially through the public loan were sufficient for construction of 20 kilometers (12 mi) of the motorway.[44]

The 39.3-kilometer (24.4 mi) long Zagreb–Karlovac section of the Zagreb–Rijeka motorway, now part of the A1 motorway, was completed in 1972. Further construction of motorways from Zagreb to Rijeka and Split was suspended for the next 28 years following a political decision of the Croatian leadership, newly installed during Yugoslav suppression of the Croatian Spring, to "stop megalomaniac projects".[44] It is considered that the true reason for the cancellation of the works was that the motorway was considered to be a "nationalist" project.[46] The conclusion is supported by the fact the road was spontaneously nicknamed King Tomislav Motorway (Croatian: Autocesta kralja Tomislava) by citizens investing their money through the public loan after the first king of medieval Croatia, who united Croatia as a single kingdom in 925. The funds raised through the public loan were left unused for several months, then spent for construction of a road between Vrlika and Strmica via Knin, now a part of the D1 and D30 state roads.[44][1] However, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe recognized the route as the southernmost part of the Pyhrn route, giving it the designation E59 in 1975.[47] Subsequent reorganizations of the E-road network, including the latest one in 2008, transferred the route south of Zagreb to the E71.[2]

Dalmatina

Maslenica Bridge carrying the A1 motorway

In the beginning of the 1990s, construction of the motorway was further postponed because of onset of the Croatian War of Independence. The decade saw renewed discussion regarding construction of the motorway, including renewed considerations of its route. Soon, the originally devised route running through Bihać was set aside and two new routes were considered: One of them was a modified version of the original route, bypassing Bihać and running through the Plitvice Lakes region while the other was a completely new route further to the west via Gospić and Zadar, which was eventually accepted for construction. Both of the alternative routes proposed that the Zagreb–Karlovac motorway already completed in 1972 were to be used as the northernmost section of the Zagreb–Split and Zagreb–Rijeka motorways.[48][49][50]

The A1 was a showpiece project of the Croatian government and a symbol of uniting the country.[45] The first attempt to revive the project in earnest occurred in the 1993, when the excavation of Sveti Rok Tunnel began.[51] More comprehensive construction work started in 2000 and Karlovac–Vukova Gorica section opened in 2001.[39] In 2003, the first sections not shared with the Zagreb–Rijeka Motorway were completed: Vukova Gorica–Mala Kapela Tunnel and Gornja Ploča–Zadar 2.[19] Mala Kapela Tunnel–Gornja Ploča, Zadar 2–Pirovac and Vrpolje–Dugopolje sections opened in 2004 and Mala Kapela Tunnel itself and Pirovac–Vrpolje section opened in 2005 marking completion of the Zagreb–Split Motorway, culminating with the grand opening of Karlovac — Split section on 26 June 2005.[46][52][53][54]

Mala Kapela Tunnel, prior to opening of the 2nd tunnel tube

Construction of the motorway along its Split–Dubrovnik sector started once the motorway sectors north of Split were complete, and the section between Split (Dugopolje interchange) and Šestanovac interchange opened on 27 June 2007.[55] The last sections to be completed to date are Šestanovac–Ravča, opened on 22 December 2008,[56][57] Ravča-Vrgorac section opened on 30 June 2011,[32] and the Vrgorac-Ploče section opened on 20 December 2013.[33] In the 2000s, as the motorway construction works were gradually progressing further south, the motorway earned its unofficial, yet widely used name—Dalmatina in Croatian press because it connected Zagreb to Dalmatia.[58] In 2010, Donja Zdenčina interchange was opened between Lučko and Jastrebarsko interchanges,[59][60][61] and in June 2012, Novigrad interchange opened bringing number of motorway exits to 33.[62]

Construction cost

Motorway construction works near Vrgorac in 2010.

The construction cost for the Bosiljevo 2–Split (Dugopolje interchange) sector of the motorway was originally estimated by the government in 2001 and presented as "3 × 3 x 3" – that is, the 300 kilometers (190 mi) of the motorway was to be completed in 3 years at a cost of 3 billion marks (approximately 12.65 billion kuna at the time, or approximately 1.533 billion euros).[63] In 2010, Hrvatske autoceste reported that the average cost of one kilometer of Bosiljevo–Split motorway was 7.1 million euro, which would mean that the total construction cost was 2.21 billion euro for that 311.4 kilometers (193.5 mi) long segment.[64]

Construction cost incurred on the Dugopolje–Ploče sector of the motorway between 2005 and 2008 was reported at 4.1 billion kuna and additional 1.8 billion kuna of construction expenses are planned until the end of 2012 (representing approximately 560 and 245 million euro, respectively). The latter figure includes construction of the D425 state road but it does not include full completion of the Vrgorac–Ploče section.[29]

The ultimate southern terminus of the motorway was defined to be near Dubrovnik by a 2003 legislation by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure.[11] In 2022 the same ministry updated the document with a definition of the A1 ending with "Opuzen – Zavala (border of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina) – Imotica (ditto border) – Dubrovnik".[65]

Hrvatske autoceste, operator of the southern portion of the A1 motorway, ordered the execution of design documents, feasibility and environmental impact studies for the Doli – Osojnik section of the motorway that is to be constructed near Dubrovnik. Commencement of construction on this section was originally scheduled for 2009.[66] Despite an official ceremony to mark commencement of construction works on the section,[67] no works beyond design and study development has been carried out there.[68]

Area around the city of Neum (marked red) separates Dubrovnik and Pelješac from the rest of Croatia

The A1 motorway route between Ploče and Doli[note 1] has not been fixed yet, as several options exist, all of which require the route to cross either an embayment of the Adriatic Sea or a part of the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.[69] While the construction of the Pelješac Bridge, spanning the coast south of Ploče and the Pelješac peninsula, had been associated with A1, its design includes only one traffic lane in each direction unlike the A1 motorway standard of two.[70]

Pelješac bridge and new link roads

In April 2012, government of Bosnia-Herzegovina proposed a route in Neum area to connect Ploče and Dubrovnik while serving Neum.[71] That entails branching of the A1 motorway 7 to 8 kilometres (4.3 to 5.0 miles) west of Neum, one branch serving Neum and the other Dubrovnik.[72] As of July 2012 no decision was reached on the section of the A1 route.[73][74]

A planned modification of the existing route encompasses construction of a directional T interchange to replace the existing trumpet interchange built at Žuta Lokva. The new interchange is only planned to be built once the A7 motorway is completed between the Rijeka bypass and Žuta Lokva. It shall not feature any weaving, similar to the Bosiljevo 2 interchange of the A1 and A6 motorways.[11]

Traffic volume measured on the A1 motorway (2009)

Traffic is regularly counted by means of traffic census at toll stations and reported by Autocesta Rijeka–Zagreb and Hrvatske autoceste—the operators of the northern and the southern portions of the motorway respectively. The reported traffic volume gradually decreases as the motorway chainage increases and as it passes by various major destinations and the interchanges that serve them. Thus the greatest volume of traffic is registered between Jastrebarsko and Lučko interchanges – with 31,432 vehicle annual average daily traffic (AADT), and 53,216 vehicle average summer daily traffic (ASDT) figures as that is the section closest to Zagreb. South of the Bosiljevo 2 interchange the first major drop of traffic volume is recorded on the A1 motorway, due to traffic transferring to the A6 motorway towards Rijeka. Other similar changes of the traffic volume are registered near Zadar (served by Zadar 1 and Zadar 2 interchanges) and Split served by Dugopolje interchange. Substantial variations observed between AADT and ASDT are normally attributed to the fact that the motorway carries significant tourist traffic. The seasonal increase traffic volume variations ranges 69% on the busiest, Lučko–Jastrebarsko section to 160% as measured on Sveti Rok–Maslenica section. The summer season traffic volume increase on the motorway is 120%.[20][25]

A1 traffic volume details in 2016[75]

Road Counting site AADT ASDT Section A1 1916 Lučko south 34,133 60,402 Lučko–Zdenčina A1 1931Zdenčina south 33,558 60,695 Zdenčina-Jastrebarsko A1 1920 Jastrebarsko south 31,242 59,058 Jastrebarsko–Karlovac A1 1804 Karlovac south 24,956 51,393 Karlovac–Novigrad A1 3027 Novigrad 24,549 52,045 Karlovac–Bosiljevo 1 A1 3021 Bosiljevo 1 west 25,081 53,749 Bosiljevo 1–Bosiljevo 2 A1 3009 Bosiljevo 2 south 16,009 40,764 Bosiljevo 2–Ogulin A1 3025 Ogulin south 15,103 39,352 Ogulin–Brinje A1 4214 Brinje south 14,971 39,238 Brinje–Žuta Lokva A1 4215 Žuta Lokva south 14,634 37,669 Žuta Lokva–Otočac A1 4216 Otočac south 14,332 37,106 Otočac–Perušić A1 4217 Perušić south 14,162 36,908 Perušić–Gospić A1 4919 Gospić south 13,969 36,577 Gospić–Gornja Ploča A1 4903 Gornja Ploča south 15,565 40,707 Gornja Ploča–Sveti Rok A1 4909 Sveti Rok south 15,150 40,066 Sveti Rok–Rovanjska A1 4805 Maslenica south 15,209 40,053 Rovanjska–Posedarje A1 4806 Posedarje south 14,531 37,995 Posedarje–Zadar 1 A1 4809 Zadar 1 south 11,757 31,153 Zadar 1–Zadar 2 A1 4921 Zadar 2 12,301 31,120 Zadar 2–Benkovac A1 5313 Benkovac south 11,472 28,920 Benkovac–Pirovac A1 5314 Pirovac south 10,707 26,201 Pirovac–Skradin A1 5315 Skradin south 11,098 26,454 Skradin–Šibenik A1 5316 Šibenik south 10,125 24,090 Šibenik–Vrpolje A1 5410 Vrpolje south 10,235 24,090 Vrpolje–Prgomet A1 5411 Prgomet south 9,221 21,340 Prgomet–Vučevica A1 5417 Vučevica south 9,273 21,391 Vučevica–Dugopolje A1 5517 Dugopolje south 9,963 20,110 Dugopolje–Bisko A1 5911 Bisko south 7,820 17,346 Bisko–Blato na Cetini A1 5912 Blato na Cetini south 8,061 17,488 Blato na Cetini–Šestanovac A1 6015 Šestanovac south 7,499 15,875 Šestanovac–Zagvozd A1 6017 Zagvozd south 4,875 10,413 Zagvozd–Ravča A1 6021 Ravča south 4,717 10,173 Ravča-Vrgorac A1 6028 Vrgorac south 4,424 9,633 Vrgorac-Ploče A1 6030 Ploče south 3,502 7,892 Ploče

Janjče rest area

As of September 2010, there are 26 rest areas operating along the A1 motorway,[9] and additional rest areas are planned along the existing sections of the route and those sections under construction. Legislation provides for four types of rest areas designated as types A through D—A-type rest areas comprise a full range of amenities including a filling station, a restaurant and a hotel or a motel; B-type rest areas have no lodging; C-type rest areas are very common and include a filling station and a café, but no restaurants or accommodation; D-type rest areas offer parking spaces only, possibly some picnicking tables and benches and restrooms.[76] Even though the rest areas found along the A1 motorway generally follow this ranking system, there are considerable variations as some of them offer extra services. The most notable example is Krka rest area—even though it has no filling station, there is, for instance, a restaurant available. The filling stations regularly have small convenience stores and some of them offer LPG fuel. EuroTest, an international association of 18 European automobile clubs spearheaded by German automobile club ADAC, surveyed three of the A1 motorway rest areas in 2009: Krka, Lički Osik and Modruš (in case of the latter, both eastbound and westbound). All of the rest areas were rated as very good, especially in terms of facilities offered.[77][78]

The primary motorway operators Hrvatske autoceste (HAC) and Autocesta Rijeka – Zagreb lease the A, B and C type rest areas to various operators through public tenders. As of September 2010, there are five such rest area operators on the A1 motorway: INA, OMV, Tifon, Petrol and Crobenz. The rest area operators are not permitted to sub-lease the fuel operations; Tifon and Petrol operated rest areas have restaurants or hotels operated by Marché, a Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts subsidiary. All of the A1 motorway rest areas, except Stupnik and Jezerane, are accessible to both directions of the motorway traffic. The rest areas normally operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.[9][10]

• International E-road network
• Transport in Croatia

Wikimedia Commons has media related to A1 highway in Croatia.

• Hrvatske autoceste Official Website Archived 8 December 2018 at the Wayback Machine

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