Background

The R1 Project consists of the design, construction, financing, operation and maintenance of three main sections of the 2×2 lane R1 motorway between Nitra and Tekovske Nemce, as well as the Banska Bystrica Northern Bypass, covering a total length of 51.6-km.
The R1 Project was developed to improve an important transport corridor for western Slovakia, to improve the road’s safety (number of fatalities is down by more than 90% since opening) and to aid economic development in the region.
Other key objectives of the Project were to minimise the environmental impact of the infrastructure and to promote employment and better quality of life for local communities, by improving connectivity with a modern highway.

Stage:

In Operation

ESG/SDG Key Facts

Foundation Via Pribina was founded in July 2012 to provide financial support (c. €200k/year) to civic associations and non-profit organisations implementing health, social, sport, education and volunteering projects throughout Slovakia. In 2024, a record number of projects were selected by the foundation and a total of €215k will be distributed to 26 organizations across Slovakia. These projects cover a large range of themes from AI to aid individuals with disabilities to creating protected work environments for homeless people.
The Via Pribina Foundation is currently in the phase of personal monitoring of all 26 supported projects. Via Pribina employees and those from our assets are visiting the organizations to provide guidance and support, aiming to help ensure the successful completion of each initiative. These projects span diverse themes, including using AI to assist individuals with disabilities and creating protected work environments for homeless.

SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean energy)

96 photovoltaic panels installed in H1 2023 and generate 35% of the electricity at the O&M center in 2024. The Project Company established a contract with the Distribution System Operator (DSO), allowing a portion of the unused electricity produced to be used by the DSO and excluded from the invoices for gridconsumed electricity. A physical battery for storing any additional energy generated by the PVs will be installed in Q4 2024. A project for connecting solar-heated water to the car wash is also in progress. This project is expected to be completed during 2024.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities)
Via Pribina presented the “Wild Meadows” initiative at the IENE (Infra Eco Network Europe) conference in Prague in September 2024, the leading global event on biodiversity and transportation in Prague, Czech Republic. Activities for children continued throughout Q3 2024 with safety days and camp trips, emphasizing accident prevention and carrying out many educational blocks on sustainability in
everyday life.

SDG 15 (Life on Land)

A cooperation with WWF has begun, and the project will be located on 1 hectare of green areas at the Banská Bystrica bypass. The work will involve environmentally friendly weed removal using a semi-parasitic local plant. Afterward, a new plant mix specifically developed for the location will be seeded. Additionally, seedlings will be planted at designated locations. The WWF will maintain the area until 2027, at which point a new maintenance manual will be developed for the operator.

Photo credit @PhotoMartini