NEW $21.4 MILLION SECTION OF ZAGREB-GORICAN MOTORWAY OPENED

( Editorial: --> 0982 ) POPOVEC, July 31 (Hina) - A 12.4km-long section of the motorway from Zagreb to Gorican (near the Hungarian border) was opened to traffic on Friday. The western carriageway of the Popovec to Sveta Helena section was built at a cost of about US$21.4 million and completes 48km of the total 97km of motorway to be built by the year 2000. Several Croatian firms built the road within the six-month deadline set by the Engineering Project Institute in Zagreb. The Croatian Roads Authority invested funds in the project, at a cost of about $1.7 million per kilometre. Finance Minister Borislav Skegro officially opened the new section of motorway. As well as the building of other roads, Croatia this year will open at least 40km of road along the vital Zagreb-Varazdin-Gorican motorway which is a striking success, Skegro said. He said it proved Croatia's resolve that its infrastructure standards be among those of developed European countries. The importance of the motorway was also emphasised at today's opening by construction working group members, Administration Minister Marijan Ramuscak, Croatian Roads Authority director Aleksandar Caklovic and Zagreb County Prefect Branimir Pasecky. The entire motorway should be completed in 2000 at a total cost of 850 million German marks, Caklovic said. (Hina) mbr 311534 MET jul 98