D1 motorway (Slovakia)

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D1 Motorway
Diaľnica D1
     Completed        Under construction        Planned
Route information
Part of E50 E58 E75 E571
Length512 km (318 mi)
Completed: 402 km (250 mi)
Under Construction: 28.4 km (17.6 mi)
Planned: 87.7 km (54.5 mi)
Major junctions
From D2 Bratislava - Pečna
Major intersections
To M08 border with Ukraine (planned)
Location
CountrySlovakia
RegionsBratislava Region, Trnava Region, Trenčín Region, Žilina Region, Prešov Region, Košice Region
Major citiesBratislava, Trnava, Trenčín, Žilina, Martin, Poprad, Prešov, Košice
Highway system
  D2

D1 motorway is an east-west motorway (Slovak: Diaľnica D1) in Slovakia. The D1 motorway is the oldest, longest and busiest[1][2] motorway in Slovakia, which is connects Bratislava with Trnava, Trenčín, Žilina, Martin, Poprad, Prešov, Košice to the Slovak-Ukrainian border (border crossing with Uzhhorod), where it is connected to the Ukrainian road M08.

It is part of the European roads E50, E58, E75, E442, E571 and of the V.A Pan-European corridor (Trieste) - Bratislava - Žilina - Košice - Uzhhorod - Lviv. With the exception of sections in Bratislava, Žilina, Prešov, Poprad and Košice, a vignette is required to use the motorway.[3]

The motorway has been under construction since 1972 and by 2023, 395.9 km of the total planned length of 512.4 km were operational. Despite the various completion dates set in the past (1990, 2000, 2005, 2010 or 2013), the full length will not be passable until 2040 at the earliest.[4][5]

Junction Trnava with R1
Junction Spišské Podhradie

Chronology

The first plans to connect Prague to Slovakia and Mukachevo in today's Zakarpattia Oblast in Ukraine, which was part of Czechoslovakia at that time, were in the 1930s. The construction of the motorway (freeway) began in the Czech part in the late 1930s, but in the Slovak part nothing was built[citation needed]. After the end of World War II, highway construction was abandoned, due to post-war reconstruction. But in the 1960s, traffic was growing very fast, and a new plan for a D1 highway was available soon, without the part in Zakarpattia Oblast, which became part of the USSR in 1945.[citation needed].

Construction began in 1973, by building the Ivachnová - Liptovský Mikuláš section, a 15-kilometre-long (9.3 mi) segment in northern Slovakia. Construction on this section finished in December 1977 and cost 241.3 million Czechoslovak korunas.[6] In 1976, 6.4-kilometre-long (4.0 mi) section created the southern bypass of Liptovský Mikuláš. The total cost of the construction amounted to 368 million Czechoslovak korunas.[6] The section between Liptovský Ján and Liptovský Hrádek with a length of 5.1-kilometre-long (3.2 mi) kilometres was under construction from April 1975 to December 1983 and had once the longest road bridge in Slovakia - the 1,035-metre-long Podtureň Viaduct.[7]

Between 1978 and 1982, a 15.9-kilometre-long (9.9 mi) section was constructed between Trnava and Hlohovec. June 1980 saw the beginning of construction in a new 17.7-kilometre-long (11.0 mi) section between Hlohovec and Piešťany which was put into operation in 1985.

A 14-kilometre-long (8.7 mi) section between Horná Streda - Nové Mesto nad Váhom opened in half-profile as a D61 in 1998, and was finished as the motorway D1 in full profile in 2000. A 15.3-kilometre-long (9.5 mi) section between Nové Mesto nad Váhom - Chocholná also opened in half-profile as a D61 in 1998, and was subsequently finished as the D1 in full profile in 2000.[6]

The 3.2-kilometre-long (2.0 mi) section of motorway in Bratislava did not begin until 20 March 2003. The construction was handed over for early use on 4 December 2005, while the gradual finishing works on the footbridges continued until June 2006. The total construction costs amounted to 1.908 billion SKK.[6]

The section between Hričovské Podhradie - Lietavská Lúčka forms the first part of the southern bypass of Žilina and includes the Ovčiarsko and Žilina tunnels. The construction of the section began with the excavation of the exploratory tunnel of the Ovčiarsko tunnel back in 1996. After the completion of the exploratory tunnel, further construction of the section was postponed. Construction work has continued only since 2014. The contractual completion date was January 2018. This deadline could not be met and the section was not handed over for use until 29 January 2021.[8] This section was financed through the European Union budget.[9]

Section at Prešov was opened in late 2021. That also includes the Prešov tunnel with 2240 meters of length.[10]

The section between Lietavská Lúčka and Dubná Skala, whose construction started in 1998, was opened on December 22, 2025. The Višnové tunnel is included within the section and after the opening, it became the longest tunnel on the motorway.[11]

Future developments

The construction of the Hubová - Ivachnová section (Ružomberok bypass), which after multiple delays, is set to be completed in 2026.[12] The 15 km long section includes the Čebrať tunnel along with 19 bridges and 3 junctions. The cost is estimated to be around €320 million, of which €125 million is funded by the European Union.[13][14]

The construction of the Turany - Hubová section, which will be the last missing section on the Bratislava - Košice route, has not yet started. The commissioning of the motorway along the entire length of the route cannot be expected before 2040 in view of the current intentions of the Ministry of Transport.[4][5]

Route description

CountryRegionLocationkmmiExitNameDestinationsNotes
SlovakiaBratislava RegionBratislava Region00.0Bratislava-Pečňa D2 E65Kilometrage starting point
10.62Bratislava-Incheba I/2 I/61
42.5Bratislava-Petržalka-Ovsište I/2 I/61
63.7Bratislava-Nivy R7 E575 I/61
85.0Bratislava-Ružinov I/63
106.2Bratislava-Trnávka
116.8Bratislava-Letisko
138.1Bratislava-Zlaté Piesky I/61
Rest areaZlaté Piesky
148.7Bratislava-Vajnory I/61
159.3Bratislava-východ D4 E75 E58
1811Bernolákovo
2717Senec
3019Senec-východ I/61
Trnava RegionTrnava Region4427Voderady
5031Trnava R1 E58 E571
6641Hlohovec
6842Madunice I/61
8352Piešťany
Trenčín RegionTrenčín Region9157Horná Streda I/61
9559Luka
10666Nové Mesto nad Váhom
11974Trenčín-juh I/9 E50 E572
11974Trenčín-juh R2Connection with R2 proposed
12477Trenčín-západ
Rest areaZamarovce
13886Dubnica nad Váhom
14590Ilava
15395Ladce
15798Púchov-juh R6
Rest areaSverepec
165103Považská Bystrica-juh I/61
169105Považská Bystrica-centrum
174108Považská Bystrica-sever I/61
Žilina RegionŽilina Region183114Bytča
188117Žilina (Hričovské Podhradie) D3 E75
199124Žilina-juh
212132Dubná Skala, Vrútky I/18
218135Martin R3
229142TuranyTemporary end
242150Ružomberok-západ I/18In construction
242150Likavka R3Proposed
249155Ružomberok-sever I/59 E77In construction
251156Ivachnová R1In construction
Rest areaIvachnová
259161Ivachnová I/18
272169Liptovský Mikuláš
277172Závažná PorubaProposed
279173Liptovský Ján
284176Liptovský Hrádok
Rest areaHybe
292181Hybe I/18
297185Východná I/18
303188Važec I/18
Rest areaŠtrba
Prešov RegionPrešov Region310190Štrba
315196Mengusovce (Svit) I/18
322200Poprad-západ I/18
325202Vysoké Tatry
329204Poprad-východ I/67
341212Spišský Štvrtok I/18
350220Levoča
Rest areaLevoča
360220Spišské Podhradie I/18
368229Beharovce I/18
379235Široké I/18
382237Fričovce I/18
393244Svinia I/18
Rest areaMalý Šariš
400250Prešov-západ R4 E371
407253Prešov-juh
418260Lemešany
Košice RegionKošice Region422262Nová polhora I/20
Rest areaJanovík
427265Košice-sever I/20
433269Košické Oľšany R4 E58 E71
441274Bidovce I/19Temporary end
459285DargovProposed
462287DvoriankyProposed
472293PozdišovceProposed
Rest areaPozdišovceProposed
475295Michalovce-západProposed
483300Michalovce-východProposed
496308SobranceProposed
Rest areaJenkovceProposed
510320ZáhorProposed
511318Slovakia-Ukraine borderZáhor-Storožnica border crossing M 08 E50Proposed
Border with Ukraine; road continues as Ukrainian M08.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Proposed
  •       Route transition
  •       Unopened

Bridges and viaducts

This is a list of bridges and viaducts as seen when moving from west to east:

Viaduct Považská Bystrica
Bridge near Podtureň
Location Length (m) Notes
Ovsište 567
Prístavný most 1,080
Prievoz 1,756
Horná Streda 772
Beckov 336
Drietoma 238
Súčanka 404 / 486
Újazd 486 / 490
Kočkovský kanál 187
Nosický kanál 227
Ladce 189 / 186
Pružinka 902
Sverepec I 443 / 480
Sverepec II 315 / 310
Kunovec open July 2010
Galanovec open July 2010
Matúška open July 2010
Považská Bystrica 1,444 open 30 May 2010
Hričovský kanál 1,695 July 2010
Vrtižer open July 2010
Plevník-Drienové
Predmier 2 lanes
Dolný Hričov 1,804 planned; open 2012?
Lietavská Lúčka 1,091 planned; open 2012?
Dubná Skala planned
Turčianské Kľačany 422 planned
Turany planned
Krpeľany planned
Kraľovany planned
Stankovany planned
Hubová I planned
Hubová II planned
Lisková planned
Podtureň 1,038
Jamníček 179
Belá 308
Dovalovec 534
Hybica 571 / 565
Východná 380
Jánošiková studnička 381
Belianský potok 347
Čierny jarok 184
Važec 638 open 2007?
Štrba 600 open 2007?
Pod Skalkou open 2008
Levoča planned
Spišský Hrhov planned
Beharovce 225 2 lanes
Studenec 102 2 lanes
Pongrácovce 343 2 lanes
Fričovce 407
Malá Svinka 255 open 2008
Malý Šariš 494 open 2008

Tunnels

There are total of twelve tunnels on the D1, of which eight are in operation. One of them is currently under construction, the Čebrať tunnel, which is planned to open in 2026.[15] Planned tunnels include the Korbieľka tunnel and the Havran tunnel. The Dargov tunnel might not be built in the future due to studies that found a more efficient route without the tunnel.[16] The use of tunnels comes included with the vignette.

This is a list of tunnels as seen when moving from west to east:

Tunnel Length (m) Notes Maximum speed limit Vehicles per day
Ovčiarsko 2,275 opened on January 29, 2021 100 km/h (62 mph) N/A
Žilina 651 opened on January 29, 2021 100 km/h (62 mph) N/A
Višňové 7,500 opened on December 22, 2025 100 km/h (62 mph) 20,000 (January 2026)[17]
Korbieľka 5,859 planned N/A
Havran 2,702 planned N/A
Čebrať 2,080 under construction since 2014, planned to open in 2026 100 km/h (62 mph) N/A
Lučivná 250 opened on December 11, 2007 130 km/h (81 mph) N/A
Bôrik 999 opened on December 8, 2009 100 km/h (62 mph) N/A
Šibenik 600 opened on November 30, 2015 100 km/h (62 mph) N/A
Branisko 4,975 opened on June 19, 2003 in a half profile, full profile planned 80 km/h (50 mph) 17,500 (May 2025)[18]
Prešov 2,244 opened on October 28, 2021 100 km/h (62 mph) N/A
Dargov 1,050 planned? N/A
  Planned
  Under construction
  In operation in a half profile


See also

References

  1. ^ "The D1 in Slovakia" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  2. ^ "D1 Motorway - Slovakia". Retrieved 2025-03-30.
  3. ^ "Electronic vignette". NDS a.s.
  4. ^ a b "Prelomový plán výstavby ciest je vonku. Pozrite sa, kedy prídu na rad tie vaše" (in Slovak). Dennik. 2021-05-12. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
  5. ^ a b "Detail materiálu. Portal OV" (in Slovak). rokovania.gov.sk. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
  6. ^ a b c d "Dálnice D1, Slovensko". Archived from the original on 2009-02-28. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
  7. ^ "Mosty – Viadukt Podtureň". Bratislava: Národná diaľničná spoločnosť. 2005. Archived from the original on 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
  8. ^ "Previezli sme sa tunelmi severnej D1. Kedy budú hotové a ako to tam vyzerá?" (in Slovak). Dennik. 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
  9. ^ "New D1 motorway section to strengthen central Slovakia's transport links with neighbours". European Commission. 2017-03-24. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
  10. ^ "New D1 highway stretch in Prešov opens, saving drivers 19 minutes". SME. 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2025-01-25.
  11. ^ "Tunel Višňové: Finále 27-ročného príbehu a trinástich ministrov". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 2025-12-21. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
  12. ^ "Po 13 rokoch sa stavba blíži do finále: Obchvat Ružomberka odľahčí premávku, výstavbu komplikovalo viacero faktorov". STVR. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
  13. ^ "Výstavba obchvatu Ružomberka na D1 sa predražuje, náklady narástli skoro o sto miliónov eur - NašaDoprava.sk". SITA.sk (in Slovak). 2023-07-20. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
  14. ^ "EÚ uvoľní 125 miliónov eur na výstavbu diaľnice D1 na úseku Hubová - Ivachnová". SME. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
  15. ^ "Minister dopravy Ráž: Obchvat Ružomberka by mohol byť otvorený v marci budúceho roka". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 2025-10-29. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
  16. ^ "Ukázali, ako dobudovať východnú časť diaľnice D1 s najvyššou spoločenskou návratnosťou". Aktuality.sk (in Slovak). 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2025-12-12.
  17. ^ "Some 20,000 Vehicles per Day Passing through Visnove Tunnel". TASR. Retrieved 2026-02-05.
  18. ^ "Raz: Second Branisko Tunnel Tube Needed". TASR. Retrieved 2026-02-05.

Content in this edit is translated from the existing Slovak Wikipedia article at sk:Diaľnica D1 (Slovensko); see its history for attribution.