With the last two sections on the Zagreb-Rijeka motorway completed, the 146-kilometre dual carriageway motorway was opened to traffic cutting down the trip between the two cities to just 75 minutes.

The construction work on the motorway began in 1971 and is valued at 660 million euros.

Also, the section of the motorway between Gorican and the Hungarian border and the new Mura bridge between Croatia and Hungary have been opened, so that now the Zagreb-Gorican motorway is fully operational.

As of 1 November, the motorway toll for this route will be HRK 60.

Prime Minister Sanader stated that this was the realization of a dream for the citizens of Croatia which could not be achieved during the period of Yugoslavian rule.
Croatia was not a priority in those times and could not lead independent politics as far as economics or any other aspect of life was concerned.