DODIK: THE BRIDGE IN ČESMA IS AN IMPORTANT TRANSPORT LINK FOR THE BENEFIT OF RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS

BANJA LUKA, APRIL 5 /SRNA/ - The President of SNSD Milorad Dodik, stated that the bridge in the Banja Luka neighborhood of Česma will be completed next week, to the satisfaction of residents on both sides of the Vrbas River, nearby communities, as well as all travelers and tourists passing through the area.

"We were here four years ago. We were, quite literally, forced to take over these roadworks, because if we had not done so, this bridge would have remained hanging as proof of incompetence," Dodik told reporters during a visit to the construction site in Česma, together with the acting director of "Roads of the Republika Srpska," Miroslav Janković. Dodik pointed out that the Banja Luka City Administration did not have the capacity to complete the project and that there had been significant property and legal issues, which have since been resolved. "Next week, this bridge will be completed and everything will be opened. What remains is to continue building the road toward Vrbanja and Čelinac, which will ease traffic at the city's entrance and exit from that direction," Dodik emphasized. He thanked the acting director of "Roads of the Republika Srpska" and his team for their dedicated work. "They recently took over this demanding part of the project, which was difficult to resolve, but when there is will, there is a way, bringing joy to residents on both sides of the Vrbas, as well as to people from Vrbanja, Čelinac, and all travelers and tourists who pass through here. This will be a significant improvement in transport connectivity for the city," Dodik stressed. The value of the bridge construction works amounts to just under 7 million KM, while the access roads cost around 1.5 million KM, all fully financed by "Roads of the Republika Srpska" and the Government of the Republika Srpska.