RIJEKA-KARLOVAC MOTORWAY TO BE CONSTRUCTED WITHIN THREE YEARS

RIJEKA, Nov 7, (Hina) - The construction of the Rijeka-Karlovac motorway is the most important project in an initiative to develop Croatia's traffic infrastructure, Croatian Transport Minister Ivica Mudrinic said. He was speaking at a meeting in Rijeka with county and municipal leaders, parliamentary members and local businessmen. Mudrinic said the deadline for construction of the Rijeka- Karovac motorway would be three years and that the project was sponsored by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He pointed out that the most difficult part of the road, a 21.3 km long stretch through the mountaineous Gorski Kotar region, would be open to traffic by the beginning of the 1996 tourist season. Mudrinic added that the modernization of the Zagreb-Rijeka railway would reduce by one hour the current three and a half hour travelling time. (hina) mm sd vm 071854 MET nov 94