Extensive street renovation work has begun in Maribor and will continue until the end of November

The City of Celje has secured European Union funding for its project to renovate Prešernova Street, marking a major step forward in urban renewal efforts. The municipal administration successfully submitted the "Comprehensive Development of Prešernova Street" project, which was approved yesterday by the Ministry of Local Self-Government, Cohesion, and Regional Development. The EU contribution comes from the European Regional Development Fund, along with a national co-financing component, totaling €2,803,114.95. The estimated total value of the project exceeds five million euros. The goal is to transform Prešernova Street into a modern space for people, enhancing quality of life through sustainable mobility and strengthening the identity and appeal of Celje's city center. Architectural design for the renovated square was prepared by Ark Arhitektura Krušec. Modern paving, installation of urban furniture, and thoughtful greening will create an environment that encourages social interaction, enables cultural events, and supports hospitality activities. The square will be designed as a unified spatial entity without segmentation, ensuring fluidity and adaptability in usage. A special emphasis will be placed on the plaza in front of the Museum of Contemporary History of Celje, which will be raised by approximately 30 centimeters and serve as a ceremonial entrance to the museum and a venue for cultural events. A new tree-lined area will be established on the northern side of the street, with channels allowing planting even where deeper ground interventions are not possible, while also serving as seating areas. The space will be equipped with benches, drinking fountains, waste bins, bicycle racks, a public bike-sharing system (BSS), and public lighting, providing a pleasant and safe environment during the day and night. The existing layout of the roadways, sidewalks, and curbs will be transformed into a shared traffic space where pedestrians and cyclists have priority over cars. With this new arrangement, two of the narrowest streets in Celje, Zagata and Ozka Streets, will also be redesigned. Construction work is expected to begin next year and conclude by 2028. As part of last year’s European Mobility Week (ETM), the architectural design, including a model, was presented to the public in a premier event on Prešernova Street and at the Museum of Contemporary History of Celje. These events attracted considerable interest from visitors, who were able to share their opinions, thoughts, and wishes regarding the project. In parallel developments, the football club NK Celje recently achieved a historic victory in Europe, defeating Nafta 3:1 in the fifth round of the competition. Despite some changes in the starting lineup due to European tournament commitments, the team managed to secure an early lead, with Veton Tusha scoring his first goal for the club. Yaya Dukuly followed with his first league goal, contributing significantly to the win. The match saw several young players stepping up, including Mark Zabukovnik, who scored his first goal after recovering from a serious injury. Meanwhile, the long-standing rivalry between Olimpija Ljubljana and NK Maribor is set to continue with a crucial match scheduled for later in the week. Olimpija, currently facing challenges both on and off the field, is looking to bounce back against the top-placed Maribor. Coach Jugoslav Trenčovski emphasized the importance of mental preparation and the need for fan support ahead of the highly anticipated encounter. He acknowledged the strength of Maribor, currently in excellent form, and expressed confidence in his squad's ability to overcome the challenge. On the other hand, Maribor itself is undergoing extensive infrastructure improvements aimed at promoting sustainable mobility within the city. The renovation of a section of Focheva Street, approximately 805 meters long, is underway and is expected to be completed by November 30, 2026. During this period, the street will be closed from the circular intersection with Pariška Komuna Street to the intersection with Focheva Street, although Focheva Street itself will remain open. Detours, including for bus route G2, will be implemented via Pariška Komuna Street, Betnavska Cesta, and Focheva Street. The project includes reconstructing the roadway, creating safer and more comfortable surfaces for pedestrians and cyclists, and establishing a quiet traffic zone. New public lighting and meteorological drainage systems will be installed, along with replanting the existing tree avenue and planting 70 new trees. Fourteen additional bicycle parking spots will be added at three locations, increasing pedestrian and cyclist areas by 15 percent. Existing vital trees in the current tree avenue will be preserved. The municipality urges all road users to exercise caution, understanding, and compliance with temporary traffic signals during the works.