Pula: Reconstruction of 43rd Istrian Division Street Worth €1.5 Million to Begin in September
Work on one of the city's busiest thoroughfares will last up to six months, with the fate of 24 trees also under scrutiny.
Work on one of the city's busiest thoroughfares will last up to six months, with the fate of 24 trees also under scrutiny.
The major reconstruction of 43rd Istrian Division Street in Pula, valued at nearly €1.5 million, is expected to begin in mid-September 2026. This is one of the city's most significant traffic and infrastructure projects, encompassing not only the worn-out roadway but also the renewal of various utility and energy systems.
For three clients-the City, Vodovod, and HEP-the City of Pula organized a joint procurement. The most favorable bid was submitted by Ceste d.o.o., with a total value of €1,471,599.22 excluding VAT. The deadline for completing all contracted works is a maximum of six months from the contractor's introduction to the site, and the contractor selection decision is final.
The project goes beyond simply repairing the roadway across the full width of a section of 43rd Istrian Division Street. Planned works include the renewal of the water supply pipeline and sewerage system, installation of a stormwater drainage system, street lighting, and EKI equipment, as well as construction works for the medium-voltage and low-voltage electrical grid.
The goal is to address long-standing infrastructure issues in the area through a comprehensive approach, rather than piecemeal interventions that would require reopening the road. 43rd Istrian Division Street is one of the city's key routes and entry points.
Traffic management during the reconstruction will be one of the biggest challenges given the street's high traffic volume. As the City has announced, traffic will be organized according to a plan proposed by the contractor, and the exact traffic flow will change depending on the construction phases. Significant attention will be paid to residents and those using buildings within the construction site area, with efforts to ensure access to their properties as much as possible.
If the contractor is brought in as planned and no unforeseen circumstances arise, the works should be completed during the first half of 2027. According to the planned schedule, the reconstruction should be finished before the start of the new tourist season.
According to the 2022 renovation study commissioned by the City of Pula and prepared by the company Arboring from Jastrebarsko, nine trees on 43rd Istrian Division Street were recommended exclusively for removal because their long-term viability was no longer guaranteed. For an additional 15 trees, removal was mentioned as one option, alongside pruning and other maintenance treatments.
Thus, removal is mentioned for a total of 24 trees, but felling is not explicitly recommended for all 24. The field inspection was conducted in January 2022 and covered 173 trees.
"This is an extremely important project for our city; it's one of the busiest streets, so we kindly ask citizens in advance for their understanding regarding temporary traffic disruptions, which will certainly occur during the works. As a City, we will strive to ensure the works are completed as soon as possible," said Pula Mayor Peđa Grbin.
