Bačić: Safety and structure of the Pelješac Bridge are not at risk

“The cracks on the Pelješac Bridge have affected the protective surface layer, so the safety of the bridge and its construction are not at risk,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Physical Planning, Construction and State Property Branko Bačić.

“The bridge,” recalled Branko Bačić, “was opened four years ago, and after that the first cracks were noticed in the protective, or surface layer, which protects the structure and construction of the bridge from rain and weather.”

However, he added, "the protective layer has obviously cracked", and in order to stop this "somewhere in early September", the renovation, or arrangement of the surface protective layer will begin.

“What is important to say is that this does not jeopardize safety, nor is the structure of the bridge endangered, but if it were not done within a certain time, damage would certainly be done to the bridge structure itself,” said Bačič, who participated in the handover of keys to tenants of newly built buildings in Sisak and Petrinja.

Bačić noted that the intervention on the Pelješac Bridge will be carried out within the warranty period, and will be financed by the bridge construction contractor.

“While the renovation of part of the surface layer is ongoing, traffic on the Pelješac Bridge will continue to operate properly,” he added.

The Pelješac Bridge was officially opened on July 26, 2022, and the contractor was the Chinese consortium China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).

Bačič also commented on the rise in fuel prices. He said that without government intervention, prices would have increased dramatically.

“We will reduce excise duties and everything else necessary to respond to such a large price increase and to make fuel as cheap as possible for our fellow citizens,” he said.

The government today set the highest retail prices for basic fuels for the next two weeks, according to which the price of a liter of basic gasoline will increase by eight cents, while diesel will increase by 16 and blue diesel by 19 cents.

Source: HRT