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The situation on Slovenia's roads is deteriorating with each year and only 27% are now considered in adequate condition.

The Roads Agency, in charge of maintaining 6,000 kilometres of roads, struggled with financial issues for the most part of 2014 after it had its budget slashed by EUR 62m as part of austerity measures.

While around EUR 150m a year would suffice for basic repairs, it is estimated that more than double this figure would be required for the coming 20 years to bring Slovenia's on par with developed European networks.

What is more, things were aggravated this year starting with the February ice storm and followed by several waves of flooding.

The ice storm also caused serious damage to the railways network, especially the segment between Ljubljana and the coast, which has been in the focus because of the increasing burdens related to the Koper port anyway.

The ever continuing debate on the need for a second track between Koper and Divača gained new momentum and heat this year after the new Infrastructure Minister Peter Gašperšič said in September it would not be needed for another 30-40 years.

He changed his position after coming under heavy fire, including from port operator Luka Koper, which expects Slovenia's sole commercial port will outgrow the railway's present capabilities in 2018 already.

At a recent presentation of a transport development strategy, Gašperšič explained that the financial construction for the Koper-Divača track is being prepared.

The project is estimated at EUR 1.4bn, of which almost EUR 400m could be secured from European funds, and the minister expects that construction could begin in 2016.

A makeshift solution for the port, which has been deepening its seabed and increasing capabilities, is meanwhile in the making in the form of a short but crucial bit of rail track that would alleviate congestion at the port.

The construction is scheduled to start in 2015, Gašperšič has announced, explaining that the 1.2 kilometres of siding, a track that will allow the port to load trains faster while relieving the burden on the Koper rail cargo terminal, are projected to cost EUR 27m.