The Ptujans at the rally demanded an acceleration of the construction of the ring road and the restriction of transit

Residents of Ptuj gathered for a public demonstration demanding accelerated construction of the Ptuj bypass and restrictions on transit traffic. The protest, organized by the Green Academy of Slovenia, took place on Thursday and called for the municipal council to withdraw from an agreement allowing international transit along Ormoš Street, as well as immediate improvements to safe school routes and sidewalks near the road. According to local councillor and member of the Green Academy of Slovenia, Sergeja Puppis Freebairn, residents have been fighting for the bypass for over eight years. Recent estimates suggest the project will not be completed for at least another ten years, which she described as unacceptable. Ormoš Street, the busiest road in Ptuj, has approximately 120 houses nearby and is home to several thousand residents. Daily traffic on the street ranges from 15,000 to 17,000 vehicles, including around 1,500 heavy trucks. Residents face excessive noise and air pollution as a result, she noted. Puppis Freebairn, who led a civilian initiative for the Ptuj bypass for many years, emphasized efforts to expedite construction, stating that residents have not hindered the process. She said locals feel betrayed after cooperating with various ministries and participating in working groups seeking solutions, yet the bypass construction continues to be delayed. She clarified that residents are not opposed to transport companies, but to international transit along Ormoš Street. They argue that freight traffic should be redirected to highways, hence their demand for the municipality to withdraw from the agreement permitting transit on this road. Mayors signed the agreement under the assumption that the temporary traffic connection would last no more than two or three years, but it now appears the bypass will not be built for over ten years, she added. The project has undergone changes during planning, and its estimated cost has risen from 100 million to 300 million euros. Among possible solutions, she mentioned rerouting traffic onto highways or constructing a temporary bypass, emphasizing that while there are many options, funding is required.