JOBS - Borderless Nature - Ipel'/Ipoly Bridge

Őrhalom (Nógrád county, HU) and Vrbovka (Banska Bistrica, SK) are located on one of the less-developed regions of the programme area. The villages are administratively adjoining but separated by the river Ipoly (Ipel) serving as the natural border between the two countries.
The main road and rail transport network of the region is quite sparse hence small villages are isolated. On the HU side east–west main road no. 22 runs through Őrhalom; but Vrbovka in SK is a dead-end village. The nearest opportunity to get to the neighbouring settlement is to use a temporary wooden bridge spanning over the river Ipel, but it is suitable for bicycles and pedestrians only. By car, you have to make a 20-25 km long bypass either eastward or westward to get across the border.

The project’s primer objective is to improve direct cross-border accessibility between Őrhalom and Vrbovka. 
Specific objectives and expected results (ER):
1)    decreasing travel distance, travel time and travel costs for inhabitants, workers and employees 
ER: increase of transit traffic on the bridge and connecting roads, elimination of bypasses; 
2)    eliminating the geographical isolation of Vrbovka 
ER: establishing north-south road facility; 
3)    contributing to uniting families and relatives separated by natural border Ipoly
ER: increase in number of family travels;
4)    facilitating cb labour mobility
ER: increase in number of people employed by companies on the other side of the border; increase in number of regular commuters 

The main output of the project is a 31,1 m long new bridge spanning over the Ipel between Őrhalom and Ipolyvarbó with a connecting road of 1175 m on the HU side, and a 400 m long  road on the SK side.
Target groups benefiting directly: inhabitants, workers and employees, students, tourists and freighters (up to 3,5 t freight limit). Indirect target groups: public institutions, SMEs, agricultural producers (farmers) and suppliers, industrial/business parks, service providers.