by InTrieste
After months of uncertainty and concern over the planned closure of a crucial highway connection between Slovenia and Italy, local officials are breathing a sigh of relief. Tanja Kosmina, the mayor of Monrupino, announced that Slovenia’s national highway operator, DARS, has agreed to significantly shorten the construction-related closure of the H4 expressway between Razdrto and Vertojba. Instead of the initially planned 180 consecutive days of work, the closure will now be split into two phases of 45 to 60 days each.
Kosmina, who has worked closely with Andrej Sila, the mayor of Sežana, Slovenia, credited diplomatic intervention for the revised timeline. “For months, we have voiced concerns about the serious traffic disruptions this closure would cause, particularly in the Fernetti area,” she said. “Thanks to the essential role played by Gregor Šuc, Slovenia’s Consul General in Trieste, and discussions with Slovenian Minister Matej Arčon, the government has recognized the difficulties that such a long closure would impose on the Italian side and has adjusted its plans accordingly.”
The Monrupino mayor emphasized that her primary concern remains the smooth management of local traffic and the daily commutes of border residents. “With a reduced construction period, we can now approach this situation with much greater confidence,” Kosmina said. She also praised the cooperation with Mayor Sila of Sežana, who has been instrumental in coordinating cross-border responses to potential disruptions.
Officials in Monrupino continue to address other critical infrastructure needs along the border. Discussions with the Regional Decentralization Entity (EDR) of Trieste and the local Prefecture have yielded progress on restoring public lighting at the Zolla border crossing and updating road signage along the former Provincial Road 9.
“We have also reached out to Italy’s State Property Agency,” Kosmina added, “to begin restoration work on the abandoned guardhouse at the former Zolla border checkpoint.”
The recent developments have been met with cautious optimism from local authorities, who view them as a testament to the effectiveness of cross-border dialogue in resolving shared challenges.
