Despite the recession and general lack of funds, the project for the construction of the land – Pelješac bridge is moving forward: Hrvatske ceste has signed a contract worth 5.2 million kuna excluding value-added tax with the company Crosco Oil Services d.o.o., which pertains to ‘additional geophysical, geological, and geotechnical exploratory works at the bridge’s pillar locations’.
Crosco Oil Services, by the way, is a subsidiary of INA and specializes in mining works, land and marine drilling for oil and gas production, as well as soil bearing capacity research for the foundations of bridges and similar structures. At the future construction site of the bridge, Crosco’s experts have been examining and are still examining the characteristics of the seabed from the ship Šangulin. These are preparatory works for the installation of steel pillars – pylons. As for the land – Pelješac bridge itself, the realization of this megaproject was initiated by the government of former Prime Minister Ivo Sanader, and despite fierce criticism from the opposition and parts of the public, neither has Sanader’s once-close associate, now Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, backed down. The total value of the bridge construction is estimated to exceed two billion kuna. The foundations of the bridge are expected to go down to a depth of up to one hundred meters below sea level. (www.novilist.hr)
