Zagreb–Macelj Highway: Benchmarking for Operational Efficiency

Infrastructure owners and investors increasingly need more than a condition assessment. The real question is whether an asset is being operated in the most efficient and cost-effective way — and a traditional technical inspection cannot answer that.

On the Zagreb–Macelj highway, TA Europe applied its infrastructure asset management and benchmarking tool to assess the asset’s technical and operational performance against international best practices and comparable infrastructure.

The analysis went beyond a standard benchmark comparison, identifying concrete optimisation and saving opportunities across the remaining lifecycle of the project, including:

• Reduction potential in operational costs over the full remaining lifecycle
• Electricity saving potential in tunnel systems and other energy-intensive assets
• Gaps between current operational practices and international best practice
• More realistic long-term OPEX budgeting
• Value-for-money improvements based on proven international benchmarks

The assessment identified a 5–10% potential reduction in operational costs through efficiency improvements and better-aligned asset management practices.

The result gives the client a clear, data-driven view of how the motorway performs compared to similar infrastructure, where efficiency gains can be achieved, and how future budgets can be used more effectively — supporting decisions based on evidence rather than assumptions.