First underwater tunnel in Croatia: Plans to connect islands of Šolta and Brač move forward

Brač

After seven years, a project for the Croatian islands of Šolta and Brač to be connected by an underwater tunnel, is gaining more traction as it has now been included in the Spatial Plan of the Split-Dalmatia County.

The change in status was adopted last month in December, in which the basic provision on considering the possibility of underwater connections between the two central Dalmatian islands was replaced by classifying the project in the network of state roads to be built, daily Slobodna Dalmacija writes.

According to the plan, on the Šolta side, the entrance to the tunnel would be in the Livka area, and on the Brač side at Milna point. Connecting roads would of course lead to the entrance. It will be the first underwater tunnel in Croatia and will cost around 50 million euros.

Milna

The Mayor of Šolta, Nikola Cecić Karuzić, says that the initiative came from his side. 

“It is in the interest of Šolta that by connecting with the big island, they would get the shortest access to the Brač airport and thus connect with the whole world. In summer we would have ferry lines all day, now during the season we have six, and in winter four, while Brač has at least twice as many,” he said, before adding.

“There are also several high schools on Brač, so our children, who are still studying there mostly for occupations in the hospitality industry, could travel to classes every day with organised transportation. This would also affect the development of agriculture.”

Šolta (Photo: Håkon Grimstad/Unsplash)

Cecić Karuzić believes it will also help tourism on the island of Šolta. 

“It would also have a positive impact on tourism. If there are up to 100,000 tourists on Brač in the summer, imagine what percentage would come to us, what would be the flow of people and goods, how many activities could take place. These are all advantages of connecting with an island that is more developed than us,” he told Slobodna Dalmacija.

The islands of Šolta and Brač are close to each other (Image: Ambassador Neelix/CC BY-SA 3.0)

Cecić Karuzić also notes that talks on this project have already been held in relevant ministries, and obtaining the necessary documentation will start soon.