Pehlinska Road 60 Percent Complete, Works to Finish by October
Mayor Iva Rinčić provides precise figures on the works carried out on the section from Marinići to Vukovarska, while councilor Marko Smojver seeks guarantees against further delays.
Mayor Iva Rinčić provides precise figures on the works carried out on the section from Marinići to Vukovarska, while councilor Marko Smojver seeks guarantees against further delays.
The works on Pehlinska Road, which have been affecting daily traffic in that part of Rijeka for months, are progressing according to plan. According to official data from the City of Rijeka, by the end of July, nearly 60 percent of the planned works on the key section, stretching over 2.3 kilometers, had been completed, with the deadline for completion set for the end of October this year.
At the 11th session of the City Council, held on July 23, councilor Marko Smojver welcomed the visible progress but asked the city administration for precise information on the pace of works and potential risks of further delays.
"Finally, something is happening on Pehlinska Road, and I commend that. I'd like to know what phase of the project has been completed so far? What remains to be done, and what is the concrete deadline for the final completion of the works? I'm also interested in whether the City of Rijeka is aware of any circumstances that could lead to further delays and whether it is prepared for them?" Smojver asked.
Mayor Iva Rinčić provided detailed data on the implementation of the project "Improvement of Water and Sewage Infrastructure in the Rijeka Agglomeration Area." On the section from the small Marinići roundabout to the junction of Vukovarska Street and Antuna Barca Street, the total length of the intervention is 2,338 meters.
"Regarding the section from the small Marinići roundabout to the junction of Vukovarska Street and Antuna Barca Street, the total length of the intervention is 2,338 m, and as of July 29, 2026, 1,394 m of the route has been completed, which is 59.62 percent of the total planned works," Rinčić replied. This means that on the main section, approximately 944 meters of the route still need to be built.
However, the job will not be finished just by laying the pipes. "The remaining works include the construction of the remaining part of the pipeline, the execution of associated infrastructure works, and the final road surfacing, including asphalt paving after the completion of underground infrastructure works," the mayor explained.
In addition to the main route, intensive work is also taking place at other locations. In Vukovarska Street, the connection of the existing steel pipeline has been completed, and preparations for asphalt paving are currently underway. "In the Vukovarska Street area, the connection of the existing steel pipeline has been completed, and preparatory works are being carried out for the asphalt paving of the BNS layer over a length of approximately 180 m, from the turn into Emilija Randića Street to the turn into Čepićka Street," Rinčić stated.
At the small Marinići roundabout, where the works under LOT E and LOT A overlap, the installation of 12 meters of ductile pipeline DN 500 has been completed. "The installation of 12 m of ductile pipeline DN 500 has been completed, along with the backfilling of the trench to the level of the existing asphalt in the direction of the Viškovo bypass, while additional preparatory works have been carried out for the continuation of the pipeline installation," the mayor's response reads.
For the residents of Pehlina and all those who pass through the area daily, the most important information is the completion deadline. According to current plans, the works are expected to be completed by the end of October 2026.
"According to the current pace of works and the contractor's valid schedule, the completion of the works on this section is expected by the end of October 2026, with the continuation of the engagement of necessary capacities and the provision of favorable conditions for the execution of works," Rinčić stated.
In response to councilor Smojver's direct question about possible further delays, the mayor did not mention specific risks but emphasized that the City of Rijeka and the municipal company Vodovod i kanalizacija d.o.o. are continuously monitoring the project's implementation. "The City of Rijeka and Vodovod i kanalizacija d.o.o. continuously monitor the progress of the project through professional supervision and regular coordination with all parties involved in the construction, with the aim of ensuring the continuation of works according to the planned pace and the completion of the section in the shortest possible time," Rinčić concluded.
