Construction of a Wildlife Underpass on the Motorway Section Slivnica – Draženci

Slovenia has been building motorways for several decades. The programme for the construction of the motorway network and the connectivity of Slovenia lengthwise and crosswise began just over ten years ago. When building motorways, we must not neglect the protection of water, soil and landscape features, as environmental aspects are not analysed with the same weight as traffic aspects.

Problem

Slovenia has been building motorways for several decades. The programme for the construction of the motorway network and the connectivity of Slovenia lengthwise and crosswise began just over ten years ago. The objectives of building the motorway cross were to connect the country internally, raise the level of traffic safety and connect Slovenia with foreign countries.

The construction of motorways, which was a major intervention in the environment and space, had both positive and negative impacts. One such impact was the intervention in the living space of people and animals (game whose natural living space was altered) on the motorway section Slivnica – Draženci, which was also partially described in the diploma thesis. Local communities affected by the construction and hunting associations managing hunting grounds along the planned route also played an important role in the construction.

Solution and Method

When building motorways, we must not neglect the protection of water, soil and landscape features, as environmental aspects are not analysed with the same weight as traffic aspects. All sections with contentious viewpoints and the impact on agricultural, forest and settled territory must be carefully studied, and the natural living space of game must be preserved to the greatest extent as a natural form of forest with the smallest possible changes. In order to minimise the impact of the construction itself and the intervention in the environment, and to enable game to re-establish their daily tracks or migration routes as soon as possible after the completion of motorway construction, the Rače Hunting Association demanded from the investor, the Motorway Company in the Republic of Slovenia – DARS, that a safe underpass for game be arranged.

At the request of the Hunting Association, the company Gradis skupina G, commissioned by DARS, built the wildlife underpass 3-2 on the motorway section Slivnica-Draženci. The constructed facility represents a monolithic, reinforced concrete structure, which does not belong amongst large construction projects, but is nevertheless a very important element of the motorway, especially for game, which is once again enabled safe passage to the area along the road. Such a design, combined with very important quality workmanship, ensures the durability of the facility, easy inspection and at the same time reduces maintenance costs.