A8 (Croatia)
A8 motorway | |
---|---|
Autocesta A8 | |
Istarski ipsilon | |
Route information | |
Part of | |
Length | 64.0 km (39.8 mi) |
Major junctions | |
From | A9 at the Kanfanar interchange |
D8 near Opatija D44 at the Lupoglav interchange | |
To | A7 at the Matulji interchange |
Location | |
Country | Croatia |
Counties | Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Istria |
Major cities | Pazin, Opatija, Rijeka |
Highway system | |
The A8 motorway (
The construction of the A8 motorway and the Istrian Y can be traced back to 1968 when the
All intersections found along the route are grade separated, except for a single
Route description
The A8
The route originates in the
The bulk of the route runs through forested areas, especially near the Učka range and near Pazin, with agricultural land in between those areas – most of it located between the Ivoli and Lupoglav interchanges. The final section of the route, near Opatija and the A7 motorway, runs through coastal areas affected by urbanization. The route crosses no major watercourses, although creeks adjacent to or spanned by the route drain into the Pazinčica and Boljunčica rivers, or directly into the Adriatic Sea in the case of watercourses flowing down Učka's eastern slopes. The Učka Tunnel contains a spring discovered during its construction and used for the water supply of Opatija ever since.[7]
The route runs through an area subject to significant
An
Tolls
The A8 is a toll road based on the Croatian vehicle classification using a ticket system—charging for use of the motorway based on distance travelled. The system was introduced as a unified toll charge system throughout the Istrian Y motorways in June 2011. Consequently, vehicles using either the A8 or the A9 or switching between the two at the Kanfanar interchange are charged a toll only when they leave the Istrian Y system, no matter where their toll ticket was issued.[20] Along the A8 motorway, a toll is charged only for using the Učka Tunnel and the Kanfanar–Rogovići section; the remaining sections of the motorway are toll-free as of June 2012. Despite this, toll tickets are issued and collected at all exits with toll plazas. For instance, vehicles traveling between Rogovići and Vranja interchanges are issued toll tickets and are required to stop at toll plazas when entering and leaving the A8, but they are not charged for using the route. However, after new sections of the full profile of the highway from Rogovići to Lupoglav and further in direction of new junction Vranja were opened, the toll started to charge also for mentioned sections.[21] The toll charge for travelling the entire length of the motorway ranges from 36.00 kuna (€4.80) for passenger cars to 205.00 kuna (€27.33) for semi-trailer trucks, in 2011 year.[22] In October 2022, the toll charge for the entire A8 motorway ranged from 37.00 kuna (€4.90) for motorcycles, then 62.00 kuna (€8.20) for passenger cars, up to 315.00 kuna (€41.80) for semi-trailer trucks.[23] The toll can be paid in either Croatian kuna or euros using major credit cards, debit cards and several prepaid toll collection systems, including various types of smart cards issued by the motorway operator and ENC; the last is an electronic toll collection system that is shared between all motorways in Croatia except the A2, providing drivers with discounted toll rates and dedicated lanes at toll plazas.[24]
In 2010, BINA Istra (the operator of the motorway) collected €38 million in revenues while its expenditure reached €230 million.[25] In the first half of 2011, however, BINA Istra reported 65.8 million kuna (€8.9 million) of income in the first half of 2011, without VAT. This income represented a 30.8 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year. (The figure includes income from the entire Istrian Y system, i.e., both the A8 and A9 motorways.) Most of this increase is attributed to the introduction of a closed toll system along the routes, replacing an open toll system in which a toll was charged only at the Mirna Bridge (along the A9 motorway) and the Učka Tunnel.[4][26] In 1999, the Croatian government negotiated amendments to the BINA Istra concession contract. These amendments allow the government to determine tolls along the A8 and A9 motorways, and the government decided to eliminate tolls on traffic flowing along the two-lane sections of the routes;[27] to compensate for this loss of income, the government subsidizes BINA Istra – for instance, in 2012 it is expected to receive a 165 million kuna (c. €22 million) subsidy.[28] By the end of 2010, the subsidy paid to BINA Istra reached a total of 1.3 billion kuna (c. €173 million); at the time, it was estimated that a further sum of 1.9 billion kuna (c. €253 million) may be paid in annual subsidies between 2011 and 2027, when the concession contract expires. BINA Istra estimates the total investment value of the construction it has carried out or planned on the A8 and A9 routes at one billion euros.[25]
History
The construction of the A8 motorway (and the Istrian Y as a whole) has its origin in 1968, when the Croatian Parliament endorsed a petition by Istrian legislators for the construction of a modern road between the peninsula and the rest of Croatia. Subsequently, Istrian municipalities started a public bond to fund the construction of the Učka Tunnel. This construction happened between 1976 and 1981, including the construction of a 22.6-kilometre (14.0 mi) route section between Matulji and Lupoglav.[29]
The Y shape formed by the A8 and the A9 routes was originally defined by highway planning documents decided upon in Rijeka and Istria, subsequently incorporated in highway planning documents of the Republic of Croatia in 1988. Lupoglav–Cerovlje was the next section to be completed, in 1988. The A8 route was extended to the Rogovići interchange between 1992 and 1998 and the remaining section to Kanfanar was completed in 1999.[29]
As the construction was comparatively slow due to a lack of funding, a motorway concession for the A8 and A9 motorways was granted to BINA Istra for a period of 32 years. The
The construction of the full profile of the highway from Rogović to the Učka Tunnel started on 15 November 2018, in the length of 28 kilometers, the investment is worth 1.2 billion kuna without VAT. It was very challenging in terms of construction because it requires a large number of overpasses, underpasses and viaducts, as well as the construction of the Rebri rest area, which is necessary for safety reasons, since there is no rest area from the Učka Tunnel to Vodnjan. A total of thirty-one buildings with a length of 2,510 meters were built, twelve viaducts, sixteen underpasses and three overpasses instead of the existing three that will be demolished. In addition, several retaining walls and auxiliary facilities were built, and corrections were made to the route of the existing road at three locations. Due to the complexity of the project, it was divided into three sub-phases: Rogovići – Cerovlje, Cerovlje – Lupoglav and Lupoglav – Vranja, and the Rebri rest area was built separately. The 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) long Rogovići – Cerovlje section was opened to traffic in November 2020, and the 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) long Cerovlje – Lupoglav and Lupoglav – Vranja section in July 2021. The construction site created about a thousand new jobs, and 90 percent of the work was performed by Croatian companies. Therefore, this project at the time of construction had an impact on GDP growth of 0.5 percent.[34][35][36]
Upgrade
The road, especially the Učka Tunnel, is undergoing (as of 2023) and due to further undergo, extensive upgrade & refurbishment works.
Traffic volume
Traffic levels are regularly determined and reported by BINA Istra, operator of the motorway, and published by Hrvatske ceste. In 2010 the traffic volume was only measured in two sections: in the Učka Tunnel and between Lupoglav and Cerovlje. In 2011, traffic counting was started in each section of the A8 between Kanfanar interchange and the Učka Tunnel using the toll ticket counts. As of June 2012, only the ASDT figures for 2011 have been published. The largest AADT volume was recorded in the Učka Tunnel; it represents the only high-performance link between Istria and the rest of the Croatian motorway network.[37][38]
The differences between the AADT and ASDT traffic volumes in 2010 are attributed to the motorway's carriage of substantial
A8 Traffic Volume Details | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Counting Site | Site Map #[37] | AADT (2011) | ASDT (2011) | Between Junctions |
Kanfanar east | 2741 | 5,520 | 8,127 | Kanfanar and Žminj |
Žminj east | 2743 | 5,410 | 7,937 | Žminj and Rogovići |
Rogovići east | 2745 | 6,618 | 9,405 | Rogovići and Ivoli |
Ivoli east | 2824 | 7,482 | 10,267 | Ivoli and Cerovlje |
Cerovlje east | 2826 | 7,314 | 10,082 | Cerovlje and Lupoglav |
Lupoglav east | 2828 | 8,046 | 10,555 | Lupoglav and Vranja |
Vranja east | 2830 | 7,795 | 11,109 | Vranja and Veprinac |
Source: Hrvatske ceste |
Exit list
County | km | Mile | Exit | Interchange Name[32] | Destinations[13] | Notes[15] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Istria | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | Rovinj | Junction with the A9 motorway, which goes (northbound) to Koper, Slovenia and Trieste, Italy. Kanfanar is reached via the D303 connecting to Ž5077. The western terminus of the concurrency with European route E751; that route continues with the A9 motorway The western terminus of the motorway | |
6.0 | 3.7 | 2 | Žminj | Ž5077 – Labin, Barban, Žminj, Sveti Petar u Šumi, Svetvinčenat | The Ž5077 connects to the D66 in Barban.
| |
16.8 | 10.4 | 3 | Pazin zapad
|
D48 – Poreč, western Pazin (including Rogovići), Motovun, Beram Ž5190 – Žminj, Vodnjan |
The D48 connects to the D64 state road to Labin.
| |
22.7 | 14.1 | 4 | Pazin istok | Ž5046 – Ivoli, eastern Pazin | The Ž5046 connects to the D64 state road in Pazin. | |
27.8 | 17.3 | 5 | Cerovlje | Ž5046 – Cerovlje, Boljun | ||
36.2 | 22.5 | Rebri service area | ||||
40.3 | 25.0 | 6 | Buzet | D44 – Trieste (Italy), Buzet, Lupoglav | ||
46.6 | 29.0 | Vranja service area | ||||
46.7 | 29.0 | 7 | Labin | The D500 also connects to Šušnjevica, Kršan and further on to the D64 and D66 state roads. Brestova is the ferry port for service to Cres. | ||
46.8 | 29.1 | Tunel Učka western toll plaza, at which only eastbound traffic pays a toll | ||||
Istria Primorje‑Gorski Kotar |
49.3 | 30.6 | Tunel Učka | |||
Primorje‑Gorski Kotar | 52.6 | 32.7 | Tunel Učka eastern toll plaza, at which only westbound traffic pays a toll | |||
52.7 | 32.7 | ADR Preparation for Tunel Učka | A holding area to prepare and assess vehicles that need special transport arrangements due to the hazardous goods they are carrying. | |||
N/A | N/A | Vojak | This junction (except for the ADR parking area) is unmarked and the roads are unsuitable for general public usage. | |||
Dobreć | ||||||
56.2 | 34.9 | 8 | Veprinac | Ž5048 – Veprinac, Ičići, Opatija | Connects to the D66 state road in Ičići. No toll plaza is present. | |
59.5 | 36.9 | 9 | Anđeli | Ž5048 – Šimetići, Kolavići | Connects to the hamlets of Šimetići and Kolavići and Ž5048 road to Veprinac. No toll plaza is present. | |
62.7 | 39.0 | Matulji service area | ||||
63.3 | 39.3 | 11 | Opatija - Matulji | D8 – Opatija, Matulji | Connects to western at-grade intersection, regulated by a traffic light .No toll plaza is present. | |
64.0 | 39.8 | 12 | Učka | A7 south – Rijeka, Zagreb, Split A7 north – Ljubljana, Trieste (Italy) E61 E751 |
The eastern terminus of the concurrency with European route E751 The eastern terminus of the motorway No toll plaza is present. | |
Concurrency terminus • Closed/former • Incomplete access • Unopened |
Service areas
As of February 2023, there were three service areas along the A8 route.
Croatian legislation identifies four types of service areas designated "A" through "D": Type A service areas have a full range of amenities, including a filling station, a restaurant and a hotel or motel; Type B service areas lack lodgings but are otherwise identical to Type A; Type C service areas, which are very common, include a filling station and a
BINA Istra, the primary operator of the route, leases the type A, B, and C service areas to various operators through
A8 Motorway Service Areas | ||||||
County | km | Mile | Name[32] | Operators | Type[41] | Notes[42] |
Istria | 36.2 | 22.5 | Rebri | INA
|
C | Facility at Rebri service area include parking areas and a filling station. This is a single service area accessible from both directions. |
46.6 | 29.0 | Vranja | INA
|
C | Facilities at the Vranja service area include a filling station that sells both petrol and diesel fuel. The service area is integrated into the Vranja exit's interchange.[43] | |
Primorje-Gorski Kotar | 62.7 | 39.0 | Matulji | BINA Istra | D1 | Facilities at the Matulji service area include a café and parking areas. |
See also
References
- ^ "Overview of motorways and semi-motorways". HUKA. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
- ^ "European Agreement on main international traffic arteries (AGR) (with annexes and list of roads). Concluded at Geneva on 15 November 1975" (PDF). United Nations. 15 November 1975. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ Lončar, Jelena (14 December 2007). "Međuovisnost prometa i turizma u Hrvatskoj" [Interdependency of transport and tourism in Croatia] (in Croatian). geografija.hr. Archived from the original on 9 June 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
- ^ a b c d "Istarski Y" [Istrian Y] (PDF) (in Croatian). BINA Istra. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ Hrvatske autoceste 2007, p. 378.
- ^ Hrvatske autoceste 2007, p. 151.
- ^ a b c d Hidroelektra-projekt (March 2011). "Studija o utjecaju na okoliš – Autocesta A8, Dionica: Rogovići — Matulji, ne-tehnički sažetak" [Environmental impact study — A8 motorway, Rogovići — Matulji section, non-technical summary] (in Croatian). Zagreb: City of Pazin. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Kosor otvorila dionicu Istarskog ipsilona, dva mjeseca prije roka" [Kosor Opens a Section of the A8 Motorway Two Months Ahead of Schedule]. Večernji list (in Croatian). 29 October 2011. Retrieved 29 October 2011.
- ^ "Pazin Istria". Histrica: Discover Istria. 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2012.
- ^ Jurkovic, Sonia; Gasparovic, Sanja; Petrovic, Lea (June 2007). Dangers and Potentials of Urban Development — The Case of Pazin (PDF). ENHR: Sustainable Urban Areas. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2014.
- ^ Hrvatske autoceste 2007, pp. 378–379.
- ^ a b "Najznačajniji cestovni objekti" [The most important road structures] (in Croatian). BINA Istra. Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Odluka o razvrstavanju javnih cesta u državne ceste, županijske ceste i lokalne ceste" [Decision on categorisation of public roads as state roads, county roads and local roads]. Narodne novine (in Croatian). Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
- ^ Google (9 June 2012). "Učka Tunnel-Matulji section of the A8" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 9 June 2012.
- ^ a b Google (22 September 2010). "Overview map of the A8" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
- ^ "Čvorišta Ipsilona" [Interchanges of the Y system]. BINA Istra (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ Hrvatske autoceste 2007, p. 379.
- ^ Hrvatske autoceste 2007, pp. 130–135.
- ^ Hrvatske autoceste 2007, p. 391.
- ^ "Cestarina na Ipsilonu" [Istrian Y toll] (in Croatian). BINA Istra. Archived from the original on 10 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^ "Cjenik naplate cestarine" (Retrieved 13 October 2022)
- ^ "Cjenik dionica na karti" [Mapped section pricelist] (in Croatian). BINA Istra. Archived from the original on 2 November 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ "Cjenik naplate cestarine" (Retrieved 13 October 2022)
- ^ "Statistički podaci" [Electronic toll collection available on HAC, ARZ and BINA Istra motorways] (in Croatian). HUKA. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ^ a b Bohutinski, Josip (2 March 2011). "Autocestom do milijuna: Istarski Y francuski je posao stoljeća" [Motorway to millions: Istrian Y is French deal of the century]. Večernji list (in Croatian). Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ "Rast prihoda od naplate cestarine" [Toll revenue increases]. Privredni vjesnik (in Croatian). 17 August 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ "Osnovni podaci iz Koncesijskog ugovora" [Basic information from the Concession contract] (in Croatian). BINA Istra. Archived from the original on 1 May 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ "Istri 250 milijuna kuna iz državnog proračuna" [Istria County region to receive 250 million kuna from the government budget]. Glas Istre (in Croatian). 20 February 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ a b c Nadilo, Branko (15 June 2010). "Druga Faza Istarskog Ipsilona" [Second phase of Istrian Upsilon] (PDF). Građevinar (in Croatian). 62 (5): 423–434. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2011.
- ^ "Plan gradnje punog profila autoceste" [Full profile motorway construction plan]. BINA Istra (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 19 September 2011. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ a b Pokrajac, A (25 September 2009). "Počinju radovi na dionici Kanfanar – Rogovići" [Kanfanar-Rogovići section work commences]. Glas Istre (in Croatian). Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ a b c "Pravilnik o označavanju autocesta, njihove stacionaže, brojeva izlaza i prometnih čvorišta te naziva izlaza, prometnih čvorišta i odmorišta" [Regulation on motorway markings, chainage, interchange/exit/service area numbers and names]. Narodne novine (in Croatian). 6 May 2003. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ Pajić, Darko (10 June 2011). "Gradnja druge cijevi tunela Učka 2012" [2012 construction of the second Učka Tunnel tube]. Novi list (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ Selan, Robi (15 November 2021). "Počinje izgradnja punog profila od Pazina do Tunela Učka (video)" [Construction of full profile from Pazin to Učka Tunnel begins (video)]. istarski.hr (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ "FOTO / OTVORENA NOVA DIONICA Ministar Butković: Danas je veliki dan, jer završetkom Istarskog ipsilona završit će se INTEGRACIJA ISTRE U HRVATSKI PROMETNI SUSTAV" [PHOTO / NEW SECTION OPENED Minister Butković: Today is a big day, because with the completion of the Istrian Y, the INTEGRATION OF ISTRIA IN THE CROATIAN TRANSPORT SYSTEM will be completed]. Glas Istre (in Croatian). 5 November 2021. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ Glavan, Marinko (8 February 2021). "PUNI PROFIL ISTARSKOG IPSILONA USKORO GOTOV: Dionicu Cerovlje – Vranja pustit će se u promet prije roka. Evo i detalja o drugoj cijevi tunela Učka" [FULL PROFILE OF ISTRIAN Y YEAR COMING SOON: The Cerovlje – Vranje section will be opened to traffic before the deadline. Here are the details of the second pipe of the Učka tunnel]. Glas Istre (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Božić, Milorad (2011). "Traffic counting on the roadways of Croatia in 2010" (PDF). Zagreb, Croatia: Hrvatske ceste. Retrieved 1 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Milorad Božić; Dinko Kopić; Franjo Mihoci (October 2011). "Brojenje prometa na cestama Republike Hrvatske godine 2011 – prethodni rezultati — prosječni ljetni dnevni promet" [Traffic counting on the roadways of the Republic of Croatia in 2011 – preliminary results — average summer daily traffic] (PDF) (in Croatian). Zagreb: Hrvatske ceste. Retrieved 1 June 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Urošević, Agneza (17 December 2007). "Kroz tunel Učku prošlo 40-milijunto vozilo" [The 40-millionth vehicle drives through Učka Tunnel]. Poslovni dnevnik (in Croatian). Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ Tadijić, Krešimir (13 June 2011). "U sezoni se očekuje više od 20.000 prolaza dnevno" [20,000 vehicles are expected each day during the peak season] (in Croatian). limun.hr. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Basic types and offer of roadside service facilities". Hrvatske autoceste. 2012. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
- ^ a b "Odmorišta Ipsilona" [Service areas of the A8] (in Croatian). BINA Istra. Archived from the original on 26 June 2012. Retrieved 1 June 2012.
- INA. Archived from the originalon 24 September 2010. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
- Hrvatske autoceste (December 2007). Croatian Motorways. Hrvatske autoceste. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
External links
- Camera viewing the route to the Učka Tunnel (in Croatian)
- Traffic reports (in Croatian)