Babiš pushes for fast completion of Prague's outer loop

The section of Prague's outer loop connecting the D1 with Běchovice should be completed by 2024, according to the Czech prime minister Andrej Babiš. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2021, assuming the state manages to complete all of the necessary land acquisitions in time. The original schedule for the project as planned by the Czech Highway Authority has it being completed in 2025. Babiš claims this too slow and is demanding the work be completed a year sooner. The Czech News Agency reports that the 12.5 km section will cost roughy CZK 9.4bn. The minister of transport Vladimíra Kremlík reports that the state will have to conclude deals with 500 land owners in order to build the express road and that they've all been approached. Not all have responded positively to the state's request to sell their property and some have made no answer at all," said Kremlik. Just 40 km of the 83 km ring road has been completed.