The new temporary bus station for Split, which will be located in the Kopilica area of the city, could cost almost three times more than the City estimated - and the question is whether it will really be a temporary solution after all. 

Although the estimated value of the works is 5 million kuna, the City of Split received only one offer for the project, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on January 18, 2019. 

Namely, only "Cestar" d.o.o. came out to play, and with an offer of almost three times more than the estimated cost - 13,587,055 kuna. 

The City received the single offer on Friday, though the procedure is far from over, as they must fully examine whether Cestar's offer is complete and satisfactory to the needs of the new station.

While we are not entirely sure why only one offer was presented for this highly anticipated project, it could have something to do with the short deadline for completion (3 months).

In addition to the short timeframe, the City, as far as we have been able to see, was not exactly meticulous as a contracting authority in the public procurement procedure.

Works in Kopilica were expected to happen by mid-February, following contract signing between the City and the ‘selected contractor’, and the deadline for appeal of any dissatisfied tenderers. In accordance with the foreseen three-month duration of construction, the new bus station and the four surrounding locations envisioned to accommodate cars and tourist buses would be arranged by the summer in the wider area of the existing railway station, which would be in line with the announcement that part of the East Coast traffic would be moved to Kopilica for the upcoming season.

According to the documentation produced by the company "Geoprojekt", between Hercegovačka Street and the railway tracks, there are plans to construct 18 covered parking platforms for buses. The largest part, with room for 10 buses, would be located closest to the tracks, the central "island" would boast five more places, and the remaining three would be next to the main road.

The existing access road facing the Public Fire Department complex would be significantly expanded and receive an appropriate sidewalk, but as far as project design is concerned, there was no envisaged expansion of Hercegovačka Street, which for decades has narrowed the entry to that part of the city.

An integral part of the overall project is arranging four surrounding parking lots for a total of 147 cars, seven taxi cabs and 51 tourist buses, with “Split Parking" as the official investor. The first location is the existing parking zone at the main building of the train station where a total of 21 spaces will be marked for passenger cars, including two for disabled parking, seven for taxi drivers and three for tourist buses.

The next parking lot would be somewhat to the east of the future station, near the intersection that leads from Hercegovačka street to the wider area of the station for the technical inspection of vehicles. There would be 46 spaces available to drivers (two for people with disabilities), and there would be a one-way street leading to the parking lot from the railway station along the railway line to the east, while Hercegovačka would only be the exit. In the immediate neighborhood, an even larger car park is planned with 80 spaces (four for people with disabilities).

On the northern side of the entire Kopilica station complex, the city administration intends to accommodate tourist buses, which, as well as for all other mentioned locations, they have signed a five-year lease agreement with the company "HŽ Infrastruktura". In front of the warehouse and the neglected tracks, there are large asphalted areas approaching Kopilica Street, which, until recently, linked the business and commercial zone in Stinice with the North Port. 

If the City of Split accepts Cestar’s 13.5 million kuna offer, should so much money be invested in a ‘temporary’ solution? Or should the Kopilica station become a permanent "temporary" solution in the end? 

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