Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina will be able to use the new, 11-kilometer-long section of the Corridor Vc motorway from today, connecting Vranduk, Nemila and Poprikuše, and the section will be available free of charge in the initial phase.
This is one of the most important infrastructure projects on Corridor Vc, which improves road connectivity between Zenica and Žepče, relieves the M-17 main road and shortens travel times on this section.
The construction of the Corridor Vc motorway is supported by the European Union, which has invested 42 million euros in grants through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF).
The construction of this section is additionally supported by soft loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the amount of 157.5 million euros, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the amount of 70 million euros.
The new route includes the 3.6-kilometer-long “Bosna” tunnel, the longest road tunnel on Corridor Vc in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Almost 4.6 kilometers of the route are made up of bridges, viaducts and tunnels, which confirms the technical complexity and demanding nature of the project.
The Prime Minister of the Federation of BiH, Nermin Nikšić, emphasized that such projects directly change the daily lives of citizens.
– This section shows that the Federation of BiH is investing where the benefit for citizens is greatest – in safety, connectivity and more balanced development. We are shortening journeys, reducing congestion, opening up space for investments and enabling faster access to markets. Each new road strengthens internal connectivity and creates the foundations for the prosperity of our country – said Prime Minister Nikšić.
The Head of the European Union Delegation to BiH, Luigi Soreca, recalled that the European Union is one of the key partners in the implementation of the Corridor Vc project, which brings Bosnia and Herzegovina closer to the European Union.
– The European Union is the largest investor in Bosnia and Herzegovina and its most loyal partner. Highway Corridor Vc is one of the most impressive symbols of our close and mutually beneficial relations. Each completed section brings us closer to the completion of this highway, which will enable faster and safer travel throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina, all the way to the EU. Two-thirds of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s foreign trade is with EU countries, and many BiH citizens have close ties with the EU, for example through work, education, family or friends. The EU invested almost one billion euros in grants in the construction of the Corridor Vc highway, and we will continue to support all efforts that strengthen our ties – said Soreca.
Federal Minister of Transport and Communications Andrijana Katic pointed out that the opening of this section is a clear indicator of concrete results in the construction of Corridor Vc, as well as another important step in its complete connection.
– The release of this section into circulation confirms the visible results of continuous work on the construction of Corridor Vc. This is another step towards its complete unification and functional connection of key parts of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which gradually achieves the goal of a single, modern transport axis connecting Bosnia and Herzegovina with the European transport network – concluded Minister Katić.
Corridor Vc represents a key transport route for the integration of Bosnia and Herzegovina into the European transport network, as well as into regional and EU markets. Its construction is being financed by a combination of domestic funds and international support.
The European Union supports the construction of Corridor Vc through grants provided through the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF), with the addition of soft loans from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), the FBiH Government’s Public Relations Office announced.
Photo: illustration
