In September 2022, construction of a section of the future Sarajevo-Belgrade motorway began in Semberija. Three years later, the contractors point out that almost half of the work has been completed, while the bulk of the work is expected next year, when they also announce the opening of this section.
Works on the 20-kilometer section of Bijeljina-Rača are being carried out intensively, and the contractor’s contract fulfillment is 40 percent, according to “Autoputevi Republike Srpska”.
MLADEN PETROVIĆ, Deputy Coordinator for the Bijeljina-Rača section of the Public Company “Autoputevi RS”
“We expect the work to be completed by the end of next year. Nine facilities, five overpasses and four bridges, a large interchange and a toll gate at the Serbian border have been designed on the route, where there will be an exit to the Serbian border crossing.”
The investment is 258.6 million BAM excluding VAT. The most demanding part of the project was the bridge over the Sava River, built by Serbia.
The citizens of Bijeljina expect that the new highway will bring new jobs and investments. Businessmen in this part of the country also see a development opportunity.
BRANIMIR ANDRIĆ, President of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bijeljina Region
“There will certainly be opportunities to open new production facilities and attract foreign investments in the Bijeljina region, which will contribute to the economic development of the economy and population.”
Six years ago, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia signed an agreement on cooperation on the construction of the Belgrade – Sarajevo – Belgrade highway.
While the section through Semberija is progressing, the rest of the highway is still visible only on paper, due to the route, unresolved property issues and other obstacles.
Photo: illustration
