In a significant stride towards enhancing regional infrastructure, the official commencement of construction for the first section of the D 35 highway in the Královéhradecku region, spanning from Hořice to Sadová, has recently taken place. Builders are embarking on a mission to complete the 10.5-kilometer highway within two years, marking the initiation of a five-year intensive construction phase for the highway connection between Hradec Králové and Jičín.

Transport Minister Martin Kupka underscored the importance of this milestone, stating, “We are launching five years of intensive construction of the highway connection between Hradec Králové and Jičín.” The D 35 project includes the construction of 14 bridges, one grade-separated junction, and five kilometers of noise barriers due to the proximity of residential buildings.

The existing congested road, which witnesses daily traffic of over 13,000 vehicles, will be partially replaced by the new corridor upon completion. The Road and Motorway Directorate (RSD) anticipates that the four-lane road will eventually connect to the highway corridor in the suburb of Plotiště and sections of the D 35 in the Pardubice and Olomouc regions. The construction project is expected to progress rapidly, with the prospect of the highway being available to drivers within two years.

Extensive archaeological research preceded the construction, particularly focused on sites related to the Prussian-Austrian war battles of 1866, including the decisive battle at Hradec Králové.

Upon its completion in 2030, the D 35 highway, spanning 260 kilometers and ranking as the second-longest in the Czech Republic, will connect Liberec, Hradec Králové, and Olomouc. This ambitious project serves as an alternative to the 366-kilometer D 1 and is part of a comprehensive plan proposed in 1963. The initial sections of the D 35 west of Olomouc were commissioned between 1978 and 1986, contributing to the realization of this vital transportation network.

Article by Prague Forum