May the 8th, 2022 - Precisely when will Krk bridge and its surface roads be completed? The issues faced in this regard by many drivers from both at home and from abroad will soon come to an end, it seems.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the now two-year ordeal faced by drivers travelling across the Krk bridge should be over in a mere ten days at the latest, because the works on the road surface will be completed by the end of next week.

The works on Krk bridge kicked off as part of a larger comprehensive renovation which was started back in 2020, and vehicle traffic on the bridge will soon be released in both directions, as reported by Novi list.

This was confirmed by Sanjin Velebit Pesut, chief engineer at Hrvatske Autoceste/Croatian Motorways (HAC) who is in charge of the reconstruction project. Pesut said that the works on the reconstruction of parts of the surface will be completed twenty days before the agreed deadline, and the entire renovation project will end up being completed about four months earlier than expected.

The works on Krk bridge, which is used by countless drivers each and every year, with traffic becoming even more strong during the height of the summer tourist season, are worth an enormous 55 million kuna, including VAT.

They've been being carried out by a consortium of Croatian companies, including Sitolor, Spegra and Geotehnika. They began back in September 2020 at the large port, and last autumn, they continued at the small port of the bridge between the islands of Sveti Marko and Krk itself.

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February 13, 2022 - HAC (Croatian Highways) is looking for a team of three people to work as security guards and monitor Krk bridge for one year, and plans to pay a total of 850,000 kuna and provide all the necessary amenities.

The job lasts 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, of course, not for the same person, but for several of them, whose mission it is to keep safe the connection between the mainland and Croatia's largest island. Croatian Motorways (HAC) are looking for security guards who will monitor Krk bridge and make sure everything is in order for 12 months, from the houses where tolls were paid until last June to the "other side", and the "gage" to be paid 850 thousand kuna will start in April, reports Večernji List.

As many as 26,280 hours are expected to be done by a team of three people, who will record their arrivals and departures electronically, in order for the employer to ensure that these hours are actually worked, and the company from which the security guards will arrive must provide and real-time digital surveillance of security guards' detours. Why? So that "potential incidents" could be reported at the same time, and a picture of them could arrive. Everything that is done must be submitted to HAC in a report by the 5th of each month, and the Motorways will provide the "guardians" of the bridge less than a kilometer and a half long with an equipped working room with heating, electricity, telephone, toilet, and dressing space”.

''The Krk Bridge is a protected object of national importance, which needs to be safeguarded in order to prevent illegal actions directed towards it'', HAC explains. They also mentioned that "no devices and equipment for technical protection have been installed on the Krk Bridge", so it is "necessary to ensure physical protection, which includes the presence of persons performing protection and guarding activities". Or, in other words, the bridge does not have cameras, so surveillance must be done with the eyes.

''Since HAC does not have its own capacity to perform physical surveillance and protection, it is necessary to provide it from the outside, in compliance with regulations (Law on Private Protection and Ordinance on the conditions and manner of implementation of physical protection)'', they added.

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June the 6th, 2021 - A newly constructed fence along the beautiful Krk bridge (Krcki most) will unfortunately block the beautiful view over the Kvarner area which drivers enjoyed so much before.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, the first two phases of the reconstruction works on Krk bridge, which began back in September last year, will be completed by June the 18th this year, and from that date, both lanes of the bridge will be open to vehicles until September the 15th. Following that date, work on the third and fourth phases of reconstruction of the upper surfaces and pavements will begin. The above was confirmed for Novi list by Sanjin Velebit Pesut, a chief engineer at Croatian Motorways (HAC), who is also in charge of the reconstruction project.

The Krk bridge is completely open for traffic as normal this weekend, as it was for the previous two, due to the increased number of vehicles passing over it on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The same will be true next weekend too, while on weekdays until June the 18th, the traffic will be allowed to continue to flow along only one lane and with regulation, which is why, since last autumn, there have been occasional increased traffic jams and delays on the approaches to the Krk bridge.

''Over this and next weekend, both lanes of the Krk bridge will remain in operation in order to enable the smooth passage of vehicles in the days of increased traffic load, before the start of the summer tourist season. On working days until June the 18th, the traffic will be allowed only on one lane, with traffic light regulation, and by then all works on the pavement of the large arch of the bridge will be completed. So far, the concreting and asphalting of the upper surface of the Krk bridge has been performed, which were the biggest works.

In addition to the installation of transition devices, the installation of a new pedestrian fence on the bridge is also in progress. It is an external fence on the bridge that will be replaced with a new one that will have a far higher degree of corrosion protection than the previous one and will, in the future, require significantly less maintenance than the existing fence, which practically had to be constantly sanded and painted,'' Pesut said.

The reconstruction of the superstructure and pavement of the Krk bridge is worth 55 million kuna, and due to the need to maintain traffic in parallel with the works, it is being divided into four phases. The works are being performed by a consortium of Croatian companies - Sitolor, Spegra and Geotehnika.

The works on the Krk bridge include the installation of a brand new concrete slab and the completion of the primary reconstruction and protection of the remaining concrete surfaces of the bridge from the effects of the aggressive action of chloride from salty seawater. As part of the reconstruction of the bridge, a new drainage system is being installed, given that the previous system consisted of drains from which rainwater flowed directly down into the sea and onto the land underneath. New drains are now being installed, and a new controlled drainage system will be installed under the pavement in the construction phase.

In addition to the above, on the large arch of the Krk bridge, a new protective fence has been placed on both sides between the lanes and the pedestrian part, and it is much stronger than before, which is clearly visible when crossing the bridge. The load-bearing posts of the fence are placed much more densely, ie with smaller intervals than before, they are much stronger than the previous ones, as is the protective lining placed on them. Although traffic safety will be higher, passengers in most vehicles will no longer be able to enjoy the view that has been provided when crossing the Krk bridge due to the fence being constructed in this way.

''Today's standards in construction are like that, safety comes first. The protective fence of the roadway far surpasses the previous one in terms of strength, in accordance with the valid regulations, and there are no compromise solutions,'' Pesut pointed out in anticipation of complaints about the view of Kvarner being taken away.

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August 5, 2020 - 222 defenders were killed in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County during the Croatian War of Independence. 222 torches are traditionally burned in their honor on Krk Bridge to commemorate Operation Storm.

Operation Storm, a strategic victory in which the Croatian Army liberated Croatia, began on this day in 1995. It is considered the most important military offensive of the Croatian War of Independence. 

Index.hr reports that during the Croatian War of Independence, from 1991 to 1995, 222 defenders were killed in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, and 222 torches are burned in their honor on the Krk Bridge. The traditional torchlight procession has been organized since 2017 by the NK Rijeka fan group 'Armada', the 'Vavik Vjerna Kirija' fan association from Crikvenica and members of the 'Blue and White Island' fan association from the island of Krk.

Take a look at the scenes from the Krk Bridge below.

"There is no surrender! Honoring the dead does not allow a delay, not for anything, let alone for the rain!" pointed out the Armada fan group, answering the question if the adverse weather on Tuesday would disrupt the torchlight procession on the Krk Bridge, by which fans pay tribute to the fallen veterans from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County that gave their lives for an independent Croatia.

"On this day in 1995, the victorious Storm started. How would it be if the operation was postponed because very high temperatures were announced, if they delayed the action for a more pleasant situation? We cannot retreat, there will be 222 torches for the heroes from Primorje-Gorski Kotar County whose lives were lost for our freedom in the Homeland War.

Several inquiries arrived in the last few hours about whether the traditional Armada torchlight procession would take place. The reason for concern can be seen with the naked eye, just by looking out the window and the announcement of more torrential rain over Rijeka, including in the area of Kraljevica during the torchlight procession. Delaying this is out of the question and there is no surrender. Get dressed and go to Kraljevica, Oštar, Voz, Črinjševa," said the members of the Armada before the torchlight procession.

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