The total traffic of all vehicles on Croatian highways in 2022 increased by 15 percent compared to the previous year, while toll revenues amounted to 426.45 million euros (excluding VAT), representing an increase of 16.3 percent, according to data from the Croatian Association of Toll Concessionaires.
In 2022, all companies managing highways recorded a 15 percent increase in traffic across all vehicle categories compared to the previous year. Specifically, traffic was registered at a level slightly above 80 million vehicles last year, compared to 69.7 million vehicles the year before.
Total toll revenues for all highway companies last year amounted to 426.45 million euros, which represents a 16.3 percent increase in toll revenues compared to the previous year. At that time, revenues amounted to 2.75 billion kuna, also excluding VAT.
The total highway network in Croatia at the end of last year was 1,341.10 kilometers, and three companies manage the highways in Croatia: Hrvatske autoceste (managing highways A1, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A10, A11 and the Krk bridge), Bina-Istra (managing the so-called Istrian Y – A8 and A9), and Autocesta Zagreb – Macelj (managing highway A2).
As of December 31, 2022, construction was underway on a total of 10.9 km of new highways (Highway A11, junction Lekenik – Sisak), seven kilometers of the first phase of the bypass of the future highway near Novi Vinodolski, and 3.14 km of expansion to the full profile of highway A8 Kanfanar – Matulji, including the construction of the second tube of the Učka tunnel, including the subsection Vranja – Učka tunnel.
Invested nearly one hundred million euros
Investments in the construction of new highways in 2022 amounted to a total of 98.85 million euros, while investments in operational sections amounted to 65.35 million euros.
In 2022, there were a total of 3,082 traffic accidents in which 40 people lost their lives, while the number of injured persons amounted to 517.
The total number of all traffic accidents in 2022 increased by 12.2 percent, while the number of fatalities increased by 11.11 percent compared to 2021 (when there were 36 fatalities). The number of injured in accidents increased by 12.8 percent compared to 2021.
For the current year, HAC has planned, among other things, the continuation of work on the expansion of the Dugopolje junction – II and III phases on Highway A1 Zagreb – Split – Dubrovnik, as well as the continuation of work on the construction of the Šibenik junction (Podi).
On A3 Bregana – Zagreb – Lipovac, the continuation of activities within the project for the revitalization of the rest area network is planned, while on A5 Beli Manastir-Osijek – Svilaj, the start of construction work on the section Border of Hungary – Beli Manastir, five km long, is planned.
On A6 Bosiljevo – Rijeka, the start of work on the reconstruction and expansion of the Orehovica junction is planned, while on A11 Zagreb – Sisak, the start of construction of the Lekenik junction is planned. Some of the planned projects have already been completed.
Bina Istra plans to continue the construction of the second tube of the Učka tunnel in 2023, including the section Vranja – Učka tunnel and the expansion of the Kvarner rest area (Subphase 2B2-1), as well as the closure of the financial structure and the start of construction work on the doubling, or construction of two additional lanes between Matulji and the Učka tunnel (Subphase 2B2-2) and the doubling of the Mirna and Limska Draga viaducts (Subphase 2B2-3).
Their plans also include the opening of the PUO Rebri east rest area with a gas station and catering facility, as well as the closure of the gas station at the PUO Vranja south rest area, and the improvement of the service of electric charging stations at the rest areas.
The company Autocesta Zagreb – Macelj planned the continuation of work on the renewal of the public lighting system of the highway (replacement of the existing system with a system implemented in LED technology), as well as the continuation of activities in preparing project documentation and approvals for the construction of a photovoltaic system for the highway.
