Transport minister lifts ban on rail and road construction projects

Transport Minister Vít Bárta on Tuesday lifted a ban on railway and road construction projects after receiving assurances of price cuts from building companies. Mr. Bárta said that building work would continue five percent cheaper, adding that this was not the end of the ministry’s efforts to cut costs. All rail and road construction projects were halted at the beginning of August as the ministry reviewed its spending. Road and motorway construction projects will continue with four exceptions. The transport minister said there was no money left for a bypass of the town of Česká Lípa, northern Bohemia, a motorway connecting Opava and Ostrava, northern Moravia, and two access roads to the D47 motorway in northern Moravia.