The works on two sections of the future Sarajevo-Belgrade-Bijeljina-Brčko and Bijeljina-Rača highways are underway in Semberija. While the construction of the section towards Rača is in an advanced stage, work on the section towards Brčko also began over a month ago.
The future highway passes through around ten local communities in Semberija, and works are especially visible in the area of Velika Obarska, through which both sections pass.
The President of the Velika Obarska local community, Predrag Spasojević, says that the intensity of works has increased in the last couple of months.
“We have been satisfied with the last few months. The pace of work is high. They said it would be completed as far as Brodac, and since I travel that road daily, I can confirm that work is underway at a strong pace on the new 17.7-kilometer section from Obarska toward Brčko District, Spasojević said.
On the other end of Semberija, in Brodac village, the construction of the interchange of the same name is underway, which will represent one of the key traffic hubs on the section Bijeljina – Rača.
President of the local community Brodac, Vladan Panić, believes that the new highway will contribute to the developing economy and opening new possibilities for local companies.
“Citizens have different opinions, but I am convinced that the highway will open new opportunities for business entities that are already operating in this area and encourage new investments. It will ease the export of products towards countries of the region and Europe,” Panić said.
From highway construction, citizens expect better transport connectivity and development of the entire area, although some of them believe that works could end faster.
Site manager at “Integral Inženjering”, Tomisal Miljević, announced that works on the cement stabilization of the route should begin in early August, followed by asphalt paving.
“In early August, we will begin work on the cement stabilization, so that we can start asphalt paving in the middle of the month. Girders are currently being installed on the right bridge, while the fabrication of prefabricated girders for the left bridge is near the end,” Miljević said.
In early July, Serbia approved an additional nearly 10 million euros to continue the highway construction through Semberija. The Relevant Minister of Transport and Communication of Republika Srpska, Zoran Stevanović, has recently visited the construction sites and said that works would not be stopped until both sections were completed.
Next month will show whether the planned work schedule will be met and when the first kilometers of the highway will be opened to traffic.
