"The importance of this nearly 15-kilometer section of the highway between Hubová and Ivachnová is undeniable. It is the penultimate section of the highway between Bratislava and Košice that drivers have been waiting for. For those traveling from one end of Slovakia to the other, this will mean saving several dozen minutes during rush hour,” said Transportation Minister Jozef Raž. The minister’s words became a reality today, October 5, 2026, when—after 13 years of construction—the long-awaited Ružomberok bypass on the D1 highway was officially opened. This event marks an important step toward the completion of Slovakia’s main transportation artery.
What Has Changed for Drivers and the City
The new D1 section between Hubová and Ivachnová is nearly 15 kilometers (14.92 km) long and includes a key element—the 3.6-kilometer-long Čebrať Tunnel. This section, which crosses 19 bridges and features three interchanges, will finally relieve Ružomberok of transit traffic that has caused significant congestion and pollution for years.
For drivers traveling from western to eastern Slovakia, the opening of the bypass means significant time savings—up to 16–20 minutes on the road. This will not only speed up travel but also improve safety and comfort by eliminating the need to drive through city streets. Residents of Ružomberok will be able to breathe a sigh of relief, as the city will be rid of heavy traffic, smog, and noise from transit vehicles.
However, not everyone is happy about the changes. Local merchants in Ružomberok, whose businesses relied on roadside traffic, are expressing concern that the opening of the bypass could lead to a significant drop in revenue. Studies show that such infrastructure projects can negatively impact small local businesses that depend on passing traffic.
The History and Future of the D1
The construction of the Hubová–Ivachnová section was a real challenge, lasting 13 years. The project, launched in 2013, faced significant challenges, including a massive landslide in 2015, which led to revisions in plans and delays. The project’s cost rose from an initial €227 million in 2013 to nearly €289 million.
The opening of this penultimate section brings Slovakia closer to the full completion of the D1 highway, which connects Bratislava and Košice. This project is a true “long-term construction project”; work on it began back in the 1970s.
The Final Section: D1 Turany – Hubová
For full traffic flow on the D1 highway, only one unfinished section remains—the Turany–Hubová section, approximately 13.5 kilometers long. This section is considered one of the most challenging due to the need to construct two large tunnels: Korbeľka (5,851 m) and Havran (2,898 m).
A tender for the construction of this section is currently underway, and the deadline for submitting bids has been extended to October 19, 2026. According to preliminary estimates, the design and construction work will take approximately seven years, and the expected cost amounts to 1.573 billion euros, excluding VAT. This means that the D1 highway will likely not be fully completed until at least the end of 2033, although the previous target was mid-2032.
Despite the delays, every new kilometer of the D1 that opens brings Slovakia closer to a modern and efficient transportation infrastructure, which is important news for everyone who uses the country’s roads.
