In Styria, the 24-hour workday has been abolished, in Intra, the personnel shortage.

On Saturday, workers on the Styrian section of the motorway resumed a 24-hour work schedule, while staffing levels have dropped significantly on the Notranjsko section due to ongoing infrastructure projects. The situation has led to persistent traffic congestion, particularly during weekends, with drivers reporting long delays as they navigate through construction zones. These disruptions continue to challenge commuters and tourists alike, who often find themselves stuck in slow-moving traffic. The issue stems from major reconstruction works at key motorway junctions, which have been ongoing throughout the summer season. Despite efforts by the Ministry of Infrastructure to expedite progress, the pace of work has remained uneven across different sites. Minister Jernej Vrtovec announced in early June that a shift to a 24-hour workday would help reduce project completion times, though exact timelines remain uncertain. Official data from Dars, the national road administration, indicate that while some areas have seen increased workforce numbers, others have experienced a decline. In the first month following the introduction of the extended working hours, the number of workers on three main construction sites, between Unec and Postojna, between Domžale and Zadobrovo, and between Slovenske Konjice and Dramlje, rose significantly. On average, around 450 workers were active daily across these locations. At one site, near Slovenske Konjice, the number of workers more than tripled within weeks of implementing the 24-hour schedule. However, this increase was not sustained over time, with activity levels beginning to drop after mid-July. At the site between Unec and Postojna, workers continued operating under the 24-hour regime, but even there, the number of personnel declined sharply. By late July, the average daily workforce had fallen below 200, down from as many as 330 earlier in the month. Meanwhile, at the site between Domžale and Zadobrovo, where the 24-hour schedule was never introduced, the number of workers remained relatively stable, although still lower than before the summer season began. The construction teams on all three sites involve consortiums of building companies, with CGP serving as a common partner. In the Styrian region and near Domžale, CGP collaborates with Pomgrad, while on the Notranjsko section, it partners with Kolektor. Despite these partnerships, reports from drivers and train operators suggest that the presence of workers has become less visible, raising questions about whether the actual workload has decreased or if the perception of reduced activity is misleading. As the peak tourist season approaches its end, the situation appears to have stabilized, with an average of around 430 workers active across all three sites. However, the distribution of labor shows marked differences. While the 24-hour schedule continues to operate on certain sections, the workforce has started to shrink, indicating possible challenges in maintaining the higher intensity of work. This pattern suggests that the initial boost in productivity may not be sustainable, prompting further scrutiny into the effectiveness of the extended working hours policy. Looking ahead, officials will need to assess how well the 24-hour model has supported the goals of accelerating infrastructure projects. With the summer season drawing to a close, the focus will likely shift toward evaluating the outcomes of these changes and planning for future improvements in managing large-scale construction efforts. Until then, drivers can expect continued delays, especially during peak travel periods.