The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Green Transition has published a draft decision declaring the 21.9-kilometre Pitomača–Virovitica section of the future Podravska motorway environmentally acceptable. This concludes the environmental impact assessment procedure, and the project can now proceed towards obtaining a location permit, the City of Virovitica announced.
The project sponsor, Hrvatske Ceste (Croatian Roads), must implement a series of protective measures during the design, construction, and operation phases of the motorway, according to the draft decision. These include the protection of surface and groundwater, preservation of natural habitats, archaeological excavations at several locations, and measures against noise and light pollution.
Noise barriers are planned for the most vulnerable sites along the route, and noise levels will be measured after the motorway opens to traffic to verify the effectiveness of these measures. Wildlife crossings and adapted culverts are planned for animals, along with the restoration of vegetation using native species. Field roads will also be restored to ensure landowners retain access to their plots.
During the public consultation, residents raised objections regarding the route, noise, safety, and potential expropriation of properties. The Ministry rejected proposals to alter the route, stating that the corridor has already been defined by existing spatial plans, and that expropriation issues will be resolved in separate proceedings.
The section will feature four traffic lanes and five interchanges – Kladare, Pitomača, Stari Gradac, and Virovitica 1 and Virovitica 2 – along with five viaducts and two overpasses. The route passes through nine settlements from Kloštar Podravski to Brezik, running almost entirely outside built-up areas and bypassing Pitomača itself.
The Podravska motorway is expected to take over transit traffic currently carried by the D2 state road, the Podravska Magistrala, thereby increasing safety and traffic flow through settlements in the Podravina region. The published document is a draft decision, not a final ruling, meaning construction depends on the completion of remaining administrative procedures.
