The Montenegrin state enterprise “Monteput” has announced a tender for the preparation of the conceptual design of the Adriatic-Ionian highway, for the Gradac-Grahovo section.
The estimated value of the procurement is four million euros, excluding VAT, while the deadline for creating the conceptual project is 15 months.
“Donica Gradac-Grahovo is approximately 45 kilometers long and represents a key segment of the future international transit corridor that will connect Montenegro, via Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Albania, with wider European road networks”, “Monteput” points out.
When it comes to Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is known that in 2024 the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina passed a Decision on determining the public interest in the construction of the Adriatic-Ionian highway through Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Počitelj – Stolac section. As previously planned, the Bosnian part of this road should start at the Bijača border crossing via the Počitelj – Zvirovići section, and then further towards Stolac and Trebinje. At the beginning of this year, FBiH highways started the process of acquiring real estate by agreement, that is, preparing the expropriation of the land needed for construction. Representatives of the Government of the BiH entity of Republika Srpska previously signed a memorandum of understanding with representatives of American companies, and one of the main potential projects was the implementation of the Adriatic-Ionian highway between Stolac and Trebinje.
At the end of last year, partners from the USA, specifically Bechtel, showed interest in the specific project.
This was confirmed for Vijesti.ba by the Minister of Transport and Communications of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Edin Forto.
“The Adriatic-Ionian highway, as well as the railway, are very interesting for several reasons. They are not discussed enough, because Bosnia and Herzegovina is mainly transit there. You have three ports that are NATO ports, strategically connected. They are Ploče, Bar and Durres, which could be connected by road and rail, and it is also a passenger corridor, but the ports give additional importance,” says Forto.
He adds that there has been great interest in this project again from Montenegro, but also from the Americans.
“We have already held talks with both Montenegro and the American side. I am very interested in getting that project off the ground,” says Forto.
