Lanfranconi Bridge in Bratislava is being repaired until the end of August: what drivers should expect 🚧
Anyone who has ever driven on D2 (highway) between Petržalka and the center of Bratislava knows this feeling: Lanfranconi Bridge, rush hour — and you are stuck. For the next two weeks, we will be stuck a little longer: the National Road Company (NDS) is entering the final phase of the bridge repair, which has been ongoing since the end of June.
For those who drive this section daily to work or school, the main message is: there will be no full closure, but until the end of August, traffic will move only in two lanes, and next Wednesday restrictions will affect the middle lane towards the Sitina tunnel. NDS promises to complete the main work by the end of summer holidays, while city traffic is still lower than usual.
What has already been done
Work on the bridge started on June 27 and is expected to last about two months. The first stage was the replacement of the mostný záver (expansion joint), a deformation joint element that takes the most load and ensures safe passage over the expansion joints of the structure.
As reported by HNonline, the joint in the direction from Petržalka to the Sitina tunnel has already been replaced, after which crews moved to the opposite side. As of mid-August, deformation joints have been updated in both directions, and NDS has moved on to repairing the road surface itself.
Why is this important? D2 (highway) is one of the oldest and busiest highways in Slovakia, and Lanfranconi Bridge, built between 1985 and 1991, carries tens of thousands of cars daily, connecting Petržalka with Karlova Ves. A worn joint means noise and shaking on the wheels, and accelerated deterioration of the bridge structure.
What will happen in the coming days
Here is the schedule — plan it into your routes:
- Wednesday, August 19, evening. Repair of the road surface on the middle lane of the bridge in the direction from Petržalka to Sitina begins. Work will continue nonstop, including nights, to restore full traffic as soon as possible.
- Friday, August 21, before morning rush hour. According to NDS plans, all lanes of the bridge should be available to drivers again.
- Tuesday, August 25, after morning rush hour. Work will expand to the section before the bridge from the Petržalka side — about 500 meters of road.
Overall, the repair covers about 1.2 km: the middle lane along the entire length of the bridge plus the access section. The middle lane surface is currently in the worst condition, so it is being prioritized for repair, writes Aktuality.sk.
How to avoid traffic jams
The most noticeable delays are traditionally expected in the direction from Petržalka to Patrónka and the Sitina tunnel, and traffic jams may spread to the D2 highway itself and adjacent interchanges. During summer repairs, even a minor accident or broken-down car can double the length of the queue.
Practical minimum for these weeks: check the situation in your navigator before departure, allow an extra 10–15 minutes, and if your route is flexible — shift your trip outside rush hours. More about how traffic and connections between Slovak cities work can be found in our transport section.
At least NDS wisely scheduled the work for August, when the city is half-empty due to vacations. If plans do not change, by the start of the school year and the return of full traffic, Lanfranconi Bridge should greet drivers with a renewed surface and no cones.
