D6 Motorway Needing Completion Reaches Major Milestone
Central Bohemian Section to Open, Paving Way for 2028 Full Route
Drivers can soon anticipate nearly fifteen kilometers of new motorway in the Central Bohemian Region as two final sections of the D6 are nearing completion. This development marks a significant stride toward the full connection between Prague and Karlovy Vary.
Key Progress on D6 Expansion
Transport Minister Martin Kupka confirmed that over forty kilometers of the D6 are actively under construction. He highlighted substantial progress in recent years, noting the imminent opening of the Hořovičky and Lišany segments in the Central Bohemian Region.
“In two months, drivers can look forward to putting the two remaining Central Bohemian parts in Hořovičky and burden in a total length of almost fifteen kilometers, thus completing the D6 in the Central Bohemian Region.”
—Martin Kupka, Transport Minister
The entire D6 route, linking Prague to Karlovy Vary, is slated for completion in 2028, according to the minister’s assurance.
New Stretch Includes Extensive Infrastructure
The newly constructed seven-kilometer stretch between Žalmanov and Knínice features an impressive array of engineering elements. It includes six bridges, two overpasses, and a railway bridge, demonstrating the scale of the project.
A significant 211-meter-long monolithic prestressed concrete bridge with five spans will traverse the Valley of the Bochovský brook. This section will also incorporate a grade-separated intersection at Bochov.
To protect local bird populations, extensive protective barriers are being installed. These include one one-kilometer-long barrier and another eight hundred meters in length. The four-meter-high barriers are designed with opaque apertures, visible to birds, incorporating wooden panels between steel columns.
Relief for Local Communities Anticipated
Radek Mátl, General Director of the Road and Motorway Directorate (RMD), emphasized the project’s benefit in diverting traffic away from villages. Currently, over eleven thousand vehicles daily use the first-class road through these communities.
“It is more than eleven thousand cars a day. People in the adjacent municipalities will be significantly relieved. At the same time, traffic safety will increase significantly.”
—Radek Mátl, General Director of RMD
The final stages toward Karlovy Vary are anticipated to be the most complex, requiring careful staging of work where the highway connects to the existing I/6 road. The contractor will utilize lime suspension for road surfacing, a technique that enhances durability.
Approximately 56 kilometers of the 114-kilometer D6 connection between Prague and Karlovy Vary remain to be completed. The RMD plans to commence construction on two additional sections next year, aiming for the 2028 completion target.
The successful completion of the D6 motorway is crucial for improving transit flow and safety. For instance, a recent study by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association indicated that improved road infrastructure can reduce transit times by up to 15% in certain corridors (ACEA, 2023).
