Faster travel from Prague to Austria: Final stretch of highway eyes 2028 start

Construction on the final section of the long-delayed D3 motorway linking Prague with Austria is now expected to begin in 2028, according to the Road and Motorway Directorate (ŘSD). The 57-kilometer stretch through Central Bohemia could shorten travel times by up to 40 minutes once completed, offering a direct route south from the capital.

Work on the project has already begun in a limited form, with heavy machinery now conducting geological surveys west of Jílové u Prahy. These early studies are intended to prepare for three planned tunnels along the route, including one nearly 1.7 kilometers long. If the timeline holds, drivers could travel the new highway by 2030 or 2031.

The D3 has been planned for decades, but disputes over its route, legal battles, and local opposition have slowed progress. While transport officials express optimism, environmental groups and residents remain determined to block or delay the project through appeals and lawsuits.

The most visible work so far has centered on exploratory tunnels, which will confirm soil stability ahead of full excavation. The first of these, a 1,617-meter test gallery near Kamenná Vrata, is expected to take more than two years to complete. According to Jiří Veselý of the ŘSD’s Central Bohemia branch, the study will provide critical data for final designs, reports iDnes.cz.

ŘSD director Radek Mátl has said he views the surveys as the effective start of construction. The agency has already begun acquiring land, with officials expecting 60 to 80 parcels to be purchased quickly.

Current legislation allows the state to offer higher-than-market compensation and, if necessary, to expropriate property more easily than in past projects. Authorities hope to obtain zoning decisions for all five sections of the Central Bohemian route by the end of this year.

If permits follow in 2026 and 2027, full construction could start in 2028. Officials say the completed highway will improve regional mobility and reduce congestion on the overburdened I/3 road through Benešov.

Despite progress, the D3 remains one of Czechia’s most contentious infrastructure projects. Local associations argue that the route through the Posázaví valley will damage sensitive landscapes and harm communities.

“No zoning decision has been issued, and construction is far from guaranteed,” the group Alternativa středočeské D3 (Alternative to Central Bohemia D3) said in a recent statement.

Legal challenges are expected to continue. Michal Bernard, a lawyer representing opponents, has warned of “a massive wave of appeals and court cases” should approvals be granted. Activists plan to use every legal avenue available to delay or halt the project, citing environmental concerns and questioning whether the benefits outweigh the costs.

Archaeological surveys, which must precede large-scale construction, could also add delays. Past projects, such as the D11 highway, faced extended hold-ups during excavation of historical sites along the planned route.