Sveti Ilija is closed: choosing the right diversion to the coast

The tunnel route is unavailable for now

The Sveti Ilija tunnel on the DC76 has been closed to all traffic since 00:00 on Monday 19 October 2026. At 17:37 on 20 October, HAK continues to list the restriction with a planned end date of 21 December. The Municipality of Zagvozd specifies 15:00 on that day.

Unlike overnight tunnel maintenance, no daily reopening in the morning has been announced. Anyone travelling between the hinterland and the Makarska Riviera must also allow for the diversion during the day. The closure affects this tunnel connection, not the A1 or the entire coastal road as a whole.

From the motorway via Šestanovac or Vrgorac

For A1 users, the municipality gives two routes to Baška Voda. From the Šestanovac junction, take the DC39 to Dubci and then continue along the DC8 coastal road to Baška Voda.

The second published route starts at the Vrgorac junction, follows the DC512 to Makarska and then the DC8 to Baška Voda. The junction suitable for your journey depends on your direction of travel and destination. These alternatives are not an instruction to use the same exit regardless of where you start. If you had planned to arrive via Zagvozd and the tunnel, review your route before leaving the motorway.

From Zagvozd, the vehicle matters too

For cars and trucks with a gross weight of up to five tonnes, the official diversion on state roads is: from Zagvozd along the DC62 to Šestanovac, then the DC39 to Dubci and the DC8 to Baška Voda.

For other vehicles, the published route instead initially follows the DC76 from Zagvozd to Grubine, then the DC60 to Cista Provo and the DC39 to Dubci. From there it also follows the DC8 to Baška Voda. The five-tonne limit is expressly attached to trucks; it is not blanket permission for every type of vehicle below that weight.

For a bus, heavy motorhome or another vehicle configuration not clearly covered, establish the appropriate route using the vehicle details and current signs. A navigation device set to car mode cannot replace this assessment. For the return journey, follow the locally signposted route.

Why the inspection chambers need work

The municipality cites repairs to inspection chambers as the reason for the closure. In a statement circulated by HINA on 8 October, Hrvatske ceste explained that parts of the enclosed rainwater drainage system were damaged, including covers, frames and reinforced-concrete slabs.

The works include repairing damaged components, replacing defective covers and modifying opening mechanisms; individual chambers are to be fully refurbished where necessary. This concerns existing tunnel infrastructure, not an announced new tunnel tube. The symbolic illustration in this article depicts this type of maintenance but does not show an actually documented worksite.

A shorter construction period is not clearance to drive through

Reports of a possible reduction in the duration of the works do not yet change the verified traffic arrangements. HAK’s report of 20 October still gives 21 December. We will report an early reopening only after suitably reliable confirmation. Anyone hoping to pass through sooner should not assume the tunnel route is open simply because the works might be completed faster.

The first announcement, dated 8 October, had still given 18 October as the start and a contractual period of 90 working days. This service update uses the municipality’s later, specific closure window. Its end time also remains a plan, not a reopening that has already happened. Before every journey, check HAK and local notices; additional travel time depends on the diversion chosen and traffic conditions. All times are Croatian local time.