Polish Construction Manager Says Tunnel Delays on D1 Highway Not Due to Geological Challenges

A senior manager from Polish construction company Budimex has disputed claims that geological difficulties caused decades-long delays in completing the Višňové tunnel on Slovakia's D1 highway. Pavel Zuzula, regional director of Budimex, said the tunnel location "has no specifically unusual geological conditions" and that while groundwater was present, the area was mostly solid rock mass. Budimex is currently completing the expansion and D1/D4 highway interchange near Bratislava. The D1 is Slovakia's main east-west highway corridor, and the Višňové tunnel has been a long-delayed section that drivers have waited nearly 25 years to see completed. Zuzula also suggested that using tunnel boring machines rather than explosives would be more environmentally sensitive for the Korbeľka section of the highway construction.