In the Federation of BiH, 138 kilometers of highway have been built, but we did not stop there because we managed to ensure continuity in the implementation of large infrastructure projects. So, we are halfway through Corridor 5C through the Federation of BiH, which is also the longest with the most demanding terrain in BiH, said Denis Lasić, director of the Public Company Autoceste FBiH, for Večernji list.
We currently have seven construction sites where work is being carried out over a total length of 55 kilometers, which include the following sections: Putnikovo Brdo – Medakovo, Medakovo – Ozimice, Poprikuše – Nemila, Nemila – Vranduk, Vranduk – Ponirak, Ponirak – Vraca, and the Kvanj – Buna tunnel.
We are in a major investment cycle when it comes to new infrastructure contracts. Everything is ready for the signing of the contract for the construction of an important sub-section in the traffic connection of Mostar and the whole of Herzegovina with the highway on Corridor 5C.
This is certainly the Mostar South – Kvanj Tunnel subsection, 9.2 km long. For this subsection, all additional requirements of the local population and associations that they requested from the EBRD, regarding additional testing and assessments of the impact of the selected route on the environment and the population, were met, and additional documentation was publicly presented at the end of October.
When work on this subsection begins in Herzegovina, about 30 kilometers of motorway will be under construction, including the Kvanj – Buna Tunnel subsection, for whose construction a contract has already been signed, and the Mostar North – Mostar South subsection, for which the contract will be signed in the second quarter of 2025.
As for the northern part of the corridor, our strategic plan is to have a completed highway from Sarajevo, or Bradina, to the final point on the Sava River by the end of 2026. 50 kilometers of highway are under construction on that part and for now, all deadlines have been aligned for the completion of this traffic route as well – said Lasić.
He emphasized that much more work remains to be done on the southern part of Corridor 5C.
– In the next period, the construction of the highway through Herzegovina will be intensified the most, which is one of the priorities, all with the aim of connecting with Croatia and the European road network.
Tenders for the most complex sections such as the Prenj Tunnel and Mostar North – Mostar South are in the final phase, and the defined deadlines for selecting a contractor and awarding the contract are the first and second quarters of 2025.
On the Mostar North – Mostar South section, two loops of the Mostar North and Mostar South motorways will be built, as well as a 15-kilometer route between these two loops and for the construction of a two-lane road connecting these loops with the existing M-17 highway.
Dionca should have five tunnels and ten viaducts on each of the two roadways.
On the other hand, the Prenj tunnel is a key part of the entire Corridor 5C, it represents a technical challenge and even more importantly, it will shorten travel time and improve connectivity.
The Prenj Tunnel, which will be built on the section of the highway between Konjic and Mostar, is the longest tunnel on Corridor 5C, the ninth longest tunnel in Europe and the 30th longest tunnel in the world. More precisely, its length will be 10.9 kilometers – said Lasić.
Continuing investment in Corridor 5C is a priority that will ensure modern transport links connecting the country with the region and the EU for the benefit of citizens and the economy.
– We have mobilized resources and technical capacities to speed up the works. From a global point of view, we have a closed financial construction for all sections that are under construction and for those for which we plan to open new construction sites soon. Therefore, we are facing a strong investment cycle in the next few years that will completely change the traffic landscape of our country.
It is inevitable to emphasize the significant increase in the price of raw materials and the price of labor compared to the past 20 years, when the construction of the highway on Corridor 5C began. Of course, there are also external factors on which Autoceste FBiH has no influence, such as war activities, epidemics, price movements at the world level of contractors’ offers, and the like.
So, risk always exists, but it is very important that we minimize risk through our business practices. Conscientious and responsible business operations keep us in the safe zone. However, without commercially acceptable risk, there is no progress. We continue with the implementation of the projects we have started, and we will also start the new ones that I have already mentioned.
In 2025, we will complete and open to traffic nearly 26 new kilometers. Specifically, in the north, we will complete and open to traffic Putnikovo Brdo – Medakovo (8.5 km near Tešanj) and part of the highway from Stara stanica to Golubinja (10 km near Zenica), and in the south Buna – Počitelj (7.2 km).
It is certainly worth mentioning the most important facility that we are completing, which is the Golubinja tunnel. It is located between Zenica and Žepče and is 3.6 kilometers long, making it the longest road tunnel currently being built in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It will significantly shorten the journey from Sarajevo to the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as it will avoid having to go around the hills, or rather drive through the Bosna River canyon.
The approximate location of the Golubinja tunnel
In the coming year, we will open the construction site for the last subdivision in the north, Ozimice – Poprikuše.
The construction of a highway is not only a demanding construction project, but also a significant economic boost for our country. As much as it seems to us that the highway on Corridor 5C is being built slowly, this project is one of the few that is progressing day by day – concluded Lasić.
Source: mostarski.ba
