Bridges and Viaducts

Preparation of design documentation for road, rail, and pedestrian bridges
  • Reinforced concrete, prestressed, steel, and composite span structures
  • Construction using incremental launching, balanced cantilever, in-situ, or prefabricated elements

Historical Overview 1948 – 1991

Since its establishment in 1948 until the Homeland War, the Engineering Design Institute has prepared several hundred bridge projects. Some of the most notable include:

history bridge
Bridge over the Krka River in Skradin
--- 1955
history bridge
Bridge over the Korana River in Slunj
--- 1958
history bridge
Freedom Bridge in Zagreb
--- 1959
history bridge
Pedestrian Bridge in Zadar
--- 1962
history bridge
Youth Bridge in Zagreb
--- 1974
history bridge
Movable Bridge in Tisno
--- 1991
1991
Limska Draga Viaduct

A viaduct on the route of the Istrian Y crossing the longest karst valley in Croatia. The main span is 160 m long, and the structural system is a continuous steel box girder. The tallest pier is 96 m high, while the maximum deck height exceeds 125 m. It was built using the balanced cantilever method and was, at the time, the largest viaduct in Croatia.

CLIENT: RSIZ for Croatian Roads

1999
Dedin Wildlife Overpass

The Dedin Wildlife Overpass on Highway A6 (Zagreb – Rijeka) is the first green bridge in Croatia, allowing safe passage of animals across the motorway.

CLIENT: Croatian Motorways

2005
Maslenica Bridge

After the reconstruction of the old bridge in 1990 and its destruction during the Homeland War, a new Maslenica Bridge was designed and built on State Road D8. The bridge has a total length of 315 m, with the main load-bearing structure consisting of two arch girders spanning 155 m. The reinforced concrete deck is composite with longitudinal and transverse steel girders over a total of 17 spans.

CLIENT: Croatian Roads

2021
Svilaj Bridge

An international bridge over the Sava River on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The load-bearing structure is a continuous composite box girder of variable height, with spans ranging from 70 to 130 m and a total length of 640 m. In the area above the main-span piers, a double composite system was used to connect the box girder with both the deck slab and the lower flange.

CLIENT: Croatian Motorways

2023
Cetina Bridge

Bridge over the Cetina River canyon on the Omiš bypass route. The load-bearing structure is a continuous steel box girder with spans of 32+152+32 m and a variable cross-section height. The deck structure is an orthotropic steel plate. The side spans are located within extended tunnel tubes. The bridge was constructed using the incremental launching method from both sides.

CLIENT: Croatian Roads

2023
Ston Bridge

The bridge over the Ston Channel is located between two tunnels. The load-bearing structure is a continuous composite box girder of variable height, with spans ranging from 55 to 110 m and a total length of 485 m. Due to the potential for high seismic loads, special impact transmitters were installed. The assembly was carried out using cranes from the existing terrain.

CLIENT: Croatian Roads

Tunnels

Tunnels designed by IPZ meet the highest safety standards in Europe and have been recognized accordingly:
  • 2005 – Plasina Tunnel ranked among the safest in Europe according to ADAC requirements
  • 2009 – Tuhobić Tunnel ranked 2nd in Europe by EUROTAP (European Commission program)
2013
Sveti Ilija Tunnel

The tunnel is located on State Road D76 and is named after the nearby Biokovo peak under which it runs. It connects the Dalmatian hinterland with the coastal area, has a total length of 4,248 m, and includes a service tube. It is the fourth-longest tunnel in Croatia and the first road tunnel in Europe with such a high overburden in a karst massif. The height of the rock above the tunnel tube reaches 1,337 m.

CLIENT: Croatian Roads

Urban Roads

Throughout its long history, IPZ d.d. has designed and developed numerous urban road projects that form the busiest parts of transport systems in urban areas, and we are proud to be among the few whose purposeful design and efficiency have stood the test of time.

Main Urban Roads and Avenues

2002–2018
Radnička Road

Radnička Road is one of the main traffic arteries of the City of Zagreb. We had the privilege to completely transform this road over the past two decades, designing several sections from the old Radnička Street to the Homeland Bridge, turning it from a narrow suburban road into one of the city’s most representative avenues. Along the avenue, kilometers of greenery were landscaped, trees were planted, bicycle paths and bus shelters were built, and a tram corridor was provided, completely transforming the view for travelers entering Zagreb from the southeast.

CLIENT: City of Zagreb

2016–2024
Sarajevska Street with Utility Infrastructure and Tram Line

Following the success of Radnička Road, the same approach is now being applied to Sarajevska Street in Zagreb. To ease the existing southern entrance to the city via the Buzin interchange, a “new main entrance” to Zagreb is being built through Sarajevska Street. Upon completion, including the overpass above the Marshalling Yard, this project will establish a direct connection with highways A3, A11, and the city of Velika Gorica, completely reshaping traffic flow in the southern part of the city. The reconstructed Sarajevska Street also includes the complete renewal and upgrade of all utility installations, the introduction of a new tram line, landscaping of green areas, pedestrian and bicycle corridors, improved bus infrastructure, and the construction of noise protection walls.

CLIENT: City of Zagreb

2020–2023
Staro Pračno in Sisak

As part of the 3rd stage of the 1st phase of Highway A11 construction, the project included the preparation of design documentation for the Staro Pračno Roundabout from km 2+650 SC1 to its connection with Zagrebačka Street (at km 0+480 SC2). The documentation covered structures, drainage, canal regulation, traffic signaling, associated installations, landscaping, and noise protection.

By designing a roundabout at the location of the former county road Ž3203 and completing Zagrebačka Street to the standard of an urban avenue, a modern solution was achieved connecting the Zagreb–Sisak motorway access road with the existing road network of Sisak.

CLIENT: Croatian Roads

2025
Extended Rudolf Kolak Street (from Dankovečka to Branimirova)

This strategic city road in Zagreb, together with the extension of Branimirova Street, will form a new transport corridor north of Dubrava Avenue and Zagrebačka Road in Sesvete, helping relieve traffic congestion in the central areas of these districts. It is a new dual-carriageway road that includes pedestrian and bicycle corridors, tree-lined avenues, bus stops, public lighting, and urban equipment.

CLIENT: City of Zagreb

2025
Reconstruction of Dubrava Avenue with New Tram Line

The reconstruction project of Dubrava Avenue included the design documentation for extending the tram line to the Dubec terminus and completely modernized and redefined this key thoroughfare in the northeastern part of the city.

The documentation covered a new 3.9 km tram line, two tram and bus terminals, and the entire roadway with 12 signalized intersections, drainage, public lighting, full pedestrian infrastructure, and underground energy, communication, and water installations.

CLIENT: City of Zagreb

Main Urban Roads with Grade Separation

2002
Radnička – Heinzlova Overpass

The project was developed as one of the phases that enabled the construction of Radnička Road, within which a grade-separated intersection of two key city avenues—Slavonska and Radnička—was designed. As part of the grade separation, a double overpass was designed in the east–west direction, together with all associated road infrastructure (carriageways, drainage, all utilities, public lighting, traffic signaling and equipment with signalization, as well as landscaping).

CLIENT: City of Zagreb

2002
Čulinečka Street with Underpass

As part of the grade separation of the intersection of Čulinečka Street with Branimirova Street and the Zagreb – Slavonski Brod railway line, design documentation was prepared for the long-awaited underpass that runs beneath one of the busiest city roads and the main railway line, significantly reducing congestion in this part of eastern Zagreb.

Within the road projects, multiple signalized intersections were designed, a twin underpass, an upgraded railway station, bus stops, and all associated road infrastructure, including drainage, a pumping station, all electrical and communication installations and corridors, public lighting, traffic signaling and equipment, and landscaping.

CLIENT: City of Zagreb

2024
Slavonska Avenue Underpass beneath Savska Road

The underpass connecting Slavonska and Zagrebačka Avenues beneath Savska Road brought major relief to the most congested part of Zagreb’s road network at the time. As part of the scheme, IPZ reconstructed approximately 1.5 km of Slavonska/Zagrebačka Avenue with connecting ramps and designed a dual-carriageway underpass with a grade-separated section of 700 m and the underpass structure itself over 230 m. Particularly demanding was the foundation of the piers supporting the mainline railway, located at level +1 in the vault zone of the underpass.

Within the road projects, multiple intersections were designed, a dual-carriageway underpass, arranged bus stops, and all associated road infrastructure, including drainage, a pumping station, all electrical and communication installations and corridors, public lighting, traffic signaling and equipment, and landscaping.

CLIENT: City of Zagreb

2025
Extended City of Gospić Street

We are currently working on the Extended City of Gospić Street project, which will significantly relieve traffic in the eastern part of Zagreb by connecting Vukovarska and Mandlova Streets with a main urban road profile. The project includes a grade-separated section—an underpass for two carriageways with a grade separation length of about 590 m and the underpass itself approximately 240 m long.

The road project, which runs along the eastern boundary of the Borongaj Student Campus UPU area, also develops several signalized intersections, a dual-carriageway underpass, pedestrian and bicycle corridors, bus stops, and all associated road infrastructure: drainage, pumping stations, all electrical and communication installations and corridors, public lighting, traffic signaling and equipment, and landscaping.

CLIENT: City of Zagreb

Residential Roads, Neighborhoods, Squares, Paths, and Promenades

Over its long history, IPZ has designed the renovation, reconstruction, and construction of some of the most important city squares, streets, paths, and promenades, as well as roadways for entire residential areas.

Petlja
  • Ilica Street from Ban Josip Jelačić Square to Republic of Austria Street
  • Republic of Austria Street along Republic of Austria Square
  • Republic of Croatia Square (formerly Marshal Tito Square)
  • Kvaternik Square
  • Flower Square
  • Rastoke Pedestrian Promenade and Bridge (listed among the 54 best tourist villages in the world…)
  • Sopnica–Jelkovec Neighborhood
  • And many other projects…