Zagreb bypass

Zagreb bypass
Map key – green in use Map key – blue other motorways
Route information
Part of European route E59 shield European route E65 shield European route E70 shield European route E71 shield
Length48.9 km (30.4 mi)
Major junctions
Beltway around Zagreb
From A2 in Zaprešić interchange
Major intersections A3 in Jankomir interchange
A1 in Lučko interchange
A3 in Ivanja Reka interchange
To A4 and
D10 in Sveta Helena interchange
Location
CountryCroatia
CountiesCity of Zagreb, Zagreb County
Major citiesZagreb, Velika Gorica, Samobor, Zaprešić
Highway system
Lučko interchange (viewed from the west), Zagreb's gateway to the Adriatic coast

Zagreb bypass (Croatian: Zagrebačka obilaznica) is a U-shaped motorway partially encircling Zagreb, Croatia. The largest part by far, between Jankomir and Ivanja Reka interchanges, was built between 1977 and 1979, while the Ivanja Reka – Sveta Helena section was built between 1996 and 1999.[1] The bypass is 48.9 kilometres (30.4 mi) long, tracing around the city from the northwestern suburb of Zaprešić to Sveta Helena in the northeast. The bypass crosses the Sava River twice and comprises a bridge across the Sava-Odra floodwater overflow canal. As the busiest sections between Jankomir and Buzin interchanges carry traffic volume of approximately 45,000 AADT, it is the most heavily used motorway sector in Croatia.

Zagreb bypass is not designated as a separate motorway with a distinct motorway number,[2] rather it consists of sections of three motorways:

Motorway Sections
A2 Zaprešić – Zagreb zapad (Jankomir)
A3 Zagreb zapad (Jankomir) - Lučko - Buzin - Kosnica - Zagreb istok (Ivanja Reka)
A4 Zagreb istok (Ivanja Reka) - Sesvete - Popovec - Sveta Helena

Those motorway sections are concurrent with sections of the D1 and D3 state roads[3] as well as European routes E59, E65, E70 and E71.

The bypass currently comprises four traffic lanes along its entire length, with an emergency lane in each direction. In its current form, the Zagreb bypass has a small number of interchanges spaced widely apart. For example, the current Zaprešić interchange extends a trip from Zaprešić to Zagreb via the bypass by 4.5 km (2.8 mi). The last new interchange was built in 2007–2008 at Kosnica in the southeast, to connect the Homeland Bridge and Zagreb via Radnička cesta (Ž1029).[3][4]

There are two rest areas along the bypass: Lučko rest area is located between Jankomir and Lučko interchanges comprising famous Plitvice Motel, well known for its pedestrian bridge across the bypass, while Sesvete rest area is located between Popovec and Sveta Helena interchanges. A new rest area is planned between Jakuševec and Kosnica interchanges.[5]

  1. ^ "3. Niskogradnja: Autoceste". Hidroelektra Niskogradnja. 2008-07-30.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Regulation on motorway markings was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NN-klasifikacija was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Kosnica Interchange" (PDF) (in Croatian). Hrvatske autoceste. May 8, 2007.
  5. ^ "A3 Motorway: Bregana - Zagreb - Lipovac" (PDF) (in Croatian). Hrvatske autoceste. July 3, 2006.