From August 28, 2026, drivers in Košice can use three traffic lanes on the bridge over the railway track on Hlinkova Street. This is a temporary solution to improve traffic capacity before the start of a full-scale reconstruction.
Why is this important for drivers?
The bridge on Hlinkova Street is one of the busiest transport arteries in Košice, with over 30,000 vehicles passing daily. It connects the Ťahanovce and Dargovských hrdinov neighborhoods with the city center and is a key route for those coming from the Prešov side.
Since August 2025, traffic restrictions were in place on the bridge due to its unsatisfactory technical condition. The number of lanes was reduced to one in each direction and the maximum speed was lowered to 30 km/h. Opening the third lane should ease morning traffic jams and speed up travel, especially for those heading to the city center.
Details and timeline of the reconstruction
The additional lane became possible thanks to the completion of temporary support work on the southern portal of the bridge, which cost about 245 thousand euros. This work was carried out by the company Colas Slovakia.
The full reconstruction of the bridge, estimated to cost 7.7 million euros, is scheduled to start at the end of 2026 or the beginning of 2027. The winner of the tender for this work is the company Skanska. The total reconstruction period will be 18 months.
The bridge, built in 1969, uses outdated Vloššák-type beams, which have already caused problems in other parts of Slovakia. Despite previous repairs in 1989 and 2015, a 2020 inspection showed that a comprehensive replacement of damaged elements is necessary.
During the main works, traffic on the bridge will be limited to two lanes. It is also important that the reconstruction will be coordinated with railway traffic under the bridge, for which special time slots from 00:10 to 03:30 have been allocated. The pedestrian path next to the bridge will remain open throughout the entire work period.
More information about changes in transport infrastructure and traffic routes in Slovakia can be found on our website.
