Road infrastructure in the area of Tuzla Canton (TC) has, for years, not kept pace with the economic development of this area. Drivers are facing damaged roads, outdated routes, and massive traffic congestion. Is a solution to this frustrating situation in sight?
TC, although the most populous, has very poor road infrastructure. This is reflected in economic development, but also in the daily lives of citizens. The roads are in poor condition, which is why vehicle damage is also frequent.
Citizens dissatisfied:
“I have been a driver for a very long time, and a lot needs to be invested. And I hope that one day they will invest some money here as well, because we are the most populous canton, we contribute a lot, and we have the fewest expressways and motorways.”
“The roads are absolutely terrible. My car has basically been ruined because of the roads. There are no proper roads.”
“Of course, no citizen is satisfied; we are isolated from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The most populous canton, we contribute the most, and the least is returned to us. That is all up to our politicians.”
“Traffic is endangered, roads are endangered, and cars are endangered. People drive old cars, everything is critical, nothing is safe.”
TC does not have a single meter of built expressway or motorway. There are around 150 thousand cars on the roads, or about 12 percent of all registered vehicles in BiH.
“These 150 thousand motor vehicles certainly significantly fill the budget through vehicle registration, fuel consumption, as well as all excise duties paid when using motor vehicles and energy products on which excise and other fees are also paid,” says Nenad Lukanovic, Assistant Minister for Transport and General Affairs of TC.
The Public Company Motorways of the Federation of BiH (FBiH) has announced intensive activities on the modernization of road infrastructure in TC. Conceptual designs and studies have been completed for two key expressway sections, Doboj East – Gracanica – Sicki Brod and Sicki Brod – Dubrave – Kalesija, with a total length of almost 80 kilometers.
With the implementation of these projects, TC will receive modern, safe, and functional transport infrastructure, improving connectivity between the western and eastern parts of the canton and ensuring a quality connection with Corridor Vc, the regions of central and western Bosnia, as well as the international TEN-T network. The planned interregional junction Sicki Brod, as an integral and indispensable part of the expressway project, represents a key point of connection with the motorway and a strategic infrastructure interest of TC, stated the Public Company Motorways of the FBiH.
The Motorways of the FBiH say that these routes will also represent the backbone of the corridor for the Spatial Plan of TC, which is currently being prepared.
“They are planned and included in the spatial plan of TC for the period 2025-2045. In addition to these roads, routes from Gradacac and Srebrenik to Tuzla are also planned as expressways, as well as an expressway from Tuzla toward Sarajevo, which is one of our most important roads from the standpoint of connecting the two cantons,” Lukanovic adds.
So far, changes on the roads of TC have mostly been cosmetic; patched potholes instead of new kilometers of asphalt. Citizens of the canton with the largest number of residents and vehicles are rightfully asking: how long will they have to wait for faster and higher-quality roads?
