Thursday, 26 March 2026
The completion of the D6 motorway connecting Prague and Karlovy Vary has been delayed, with the final sections now expected to be finished in 2029 instead of the previously planned 2028.
Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš confirmed the revised timeline during a visit to the Karlovy Vary Region. According to officials, the delay is mainly linked to difficulties in securing land required for construction.
Lukáš Hnízdil, director of the Karlovy Vary branch of the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic, said the preparation phase has been slowed by property-related issues. Agreements with landowners have proven complex, with some cases involving repeated appeals during administrative procedures.
The most technically demanding section is expected to be the final stretch between Olšové Vraty and Karlovy Vary. While most motorway sections are typically built within 30 months, this segment is expected to require around 36 months due to its complexity.
This final section will be approximately eight kilometres long, with an estimated construction cost of CZK 4.3 billion. Around one-third of the route will be a standard motorway, while the remaining part will involve upgrades to the existing I/6 road as it connects to Karlovy Vary.
Construction activity on other parts of the D6 has continued. Work began last year on the Knínice–Bošov and Žalmanov–Knínice sections, while bypasses around Hořesedly and Hořovičky have already been completed. The opening of another section between Petrohrad and Lubenec has been postponed to spring 2026.
Further sections, including Olšové Vraty–Žalmanov, remain in preparation as the project progresses toward its revised completion date.
