On Monday, December 22, 2025, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico 🛼 roller-skated through the freshly completed 7.5 km Visnove tunnel, marking the grand opening of Slovakia’s longest tunnel after a nearly 30-year saga. ‘I didn’t want to miss this opportunity to go through the whole tunnel on roller skates,’ Fico shared before leading the ride.
Visnove finishes a key gap on the D1 highway between Bratislava and Košice, aiming to divert over 80% of traffic from the old accident-prone route. Imagine shaving hours off cross-country trips—and for our tech heads, it’s like finally getting that major software update you’ve been waiting for—speed and stability in real life! ⚡️
The journey to today wasn’t smooth: plans kicked off in 1990, construction began in 2014 with a 2019 deadline, but hit a wall in 2019 when contracts were terminated. Work finally resumed in 2021, pushing the finish line into 2025.
Despite cost overruns and delays, the tunnel now promises faster, safer travel for drivers and haulers alike. For road-trippers and commuters clutching their chai on the dashboard, it’s a game-changer 🎉.
And for Fico, trading a suit for skates was the perfect way to celebrate a long-overdue win for Slovak infrastructure—and maybe inspire a few aspiring rollerskaters along the way!
Reference(s):
Slovak PM celebrates long-delayed tunnel opening – on rollerblades
cgtn.com
