This Monday, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico rolled through the newly opened Visnove tunnel on roller skates 🛼, celebrating the end of a nearly 30-year infrastructure saga with a splash of fun.
The 7.5-kilometer Visnove tunnel, now Slovakia’s longest, completes a crucial link on the D1 highway between Bratislava and Košice. Officials expect it to divert over 80% of traffic from the old, accident-prone route, cutting travel times and boosting safety 🚗⏱.
The project first emerged in 1990, but construction only began in 2014 with an original 2019 deadline. A contract termination in 2019 halted progress until work resumed in 2021. Now, the tunnel’s official opening marks a milestone in modernizing Slovakia’s transport network.
Fico said, "I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to go through the whole tunnel on roller skates," adding a playful twist to a serious achievement 🎉. Drivers and commuters alike can look forward to smoother journeys in the months ahead.
Reference(s):
Slovak PM celebrates long-delayed tunnel opening – on rollerblades
cgtn.com
