Slovakia's prime minister rollerblades to inaugurate highway tunnel

Prime minister Robert Fico inaugurated Slovakia's longest highway tunnel by rollerblading its entire 7,5 km length.

Slovak prime minister Robert Fico marked the inauguration of the Visnove tunnel on 22/12 by rollerblading its full 7,5 km length. The ceremony followed over three decades of planning and 10 years of construction for what is now Slovakia's longest highway tunnel.

Following the event, Fico posted a video of his rollerblading on Facebook, celebrating the Visnove tunnel as a major national achievement. He also used the opportunity to criticize his predecessors, attributing the prolonged construction process to them.

“Those who have never done anything for this project, or who once opposed it, are now slandering it. Meanwhile, those who understand the significance of bringing this project to completion are smiling,” he wrote.

Slovak prime minister rollerblades through the Visnove tunnel. Video: Facebook/Robert Fico

The Visnove tunnel project, a central component of a new 13,5 km section of the D1 highway, has a complex history. The D1 is Slovakia's busiest, oldest, and longest transportation artery, running east-west across much of the country. The project was initially proposed in the early 1990s, with construction commencing in the late 2000s during Fico's first term. However, prime minister Mikulas Dzurinda later suspended it due to cost concerns.

Despite eventually restarting, the project faced continuous delays, changes in contractors, and repeated schedule setbacks over the years. Besides the tunnel, the new road section also includes several bridges, crossing the Mala Fatra mountain range.