VIŠKOVIĆ: CONSTRUCTION OF 114.5 KILOMETRES OF HIGHWAYS CONTRACTED, INVESTMENT WORTH MORE THAN BAM 2.5 BILLION

BANJA LUKA, OCTOBER 3 /SRNA/ - Acting Director of the Republika Srpska Public Enterprise Republika Srpska Highways Radovan Višković said that the construction of 114.5 kilometres of new highways has been contracted, with financing and contractors secured, representing an investment cycle worth more than BAM 2.5 billion excluding VAT.

Višković said that Republika Srpska Highways currently manages 111 kilometres of highways, and that over the next three to five years, with the implementation of projects already under contract, Republika Srpska should have almost twice as many kilometres of highways. "We already have contracts in place for 114.5 kilometres of new highways in addition to the existing 111 kilometres, with contractors selected and financing secured," Višković said in a podcast by the Media System of Republika Srpska – SRNA. He said that one of the strategic goals is to connect Banja Luka and Belgrade by highway through Republika Srpska, adding that the section from Gradiška to Doboj has already been built, as has the new bridge over the Sava River near Gradiška. Višković expects the Croatian side to complete the expressway from Okučani to the bridge at Gradiška soon, which, he said, should significantly contribute to diverting traffic from BiH towards Western Europe through this border crossing. INTEGRATED BORDER CROSSING AT RAČA TO OPEN IN THE FIRST HALF OF OCTOBER He said that the 31-kilometre Vukosavlje–Brčko section and the 17-kilometre Brčko–Bijeljina section have also been contracted, with two Chinese companies engaged to build them. Regarding the route towards Serbia, Višković said that the integrated border crossing at Rača was expected to open in the first half of October, along with the new bridge over the Sava River built by Serbia and the highway section from Šid towards Rača. "We are completing our section of the highway and the connection from our section of the highway to the existing main road from Bijeljina to Rača, so that the fully integrated border crossing, the highway and the bridge over the Sava at Rača can all be operational," Višković said. He expressed regret that the contractor had failed to complete all 20 kilometres of the highway from Rača to Bijeljina. He said he had received assurances, which he had also requested in writing, that this section should be completed by the end of next year. Višković stated that preparatory works are already underway on the Bijeljina–Brčko route, which includes the preparation of design and technical documentation, route preparation, and topsoil removal, and that similar works are also being carried out on the Vukosavlje–Brčko section. He stressed that the only missing section along the route connecting Banja Luka and Belgrade by highway through Republika Srpska is currently the Vukosavlje–Doboj section. EUR 500 MILLION FOR THE DOBOJ–VUKOSAVLJE SECTION TO BE APPROVED SOON Višković said that the Republika Srpska Highways company had initiated talks with the World Bank on financing the construction of the approximately 36-kilometre-long Doboj–Vukosavlje highway section. He confirmed that the talks were at an advanced stage and that around 80 percent of the work with the World Bank had already been completed, adding that he expects the funds could be approved by the institution’s Board of Directors by the end of the year. "It is a matter of EUR 500 million for the construction of this section," Višković said. He stressed that the Doboj–Vukosavlje section is the last remaining section of Corridor Vc through Republika Srpska, and that its construction will complete the highway connection between Banja Luka and Belgrade. "With this, we will address two of our issues: connecting Belgrade and Banja Luka, as well as Corridor Vc," Višković said. He said that the construction of this section would complete Corridor Vc on the territory of Republika Srpska. BYPASS CONSTRUCTION TO EASE TRAFFIC IN DOBOJ Speaking about the so-called Doboj bypass on Corridor Vc, Višković said it is a section approximately 6.5 kilometres long but technically demanding, with two tunnels, a bridge over the Bosna River and a viaduct. According to him, the issue was the construction permit for the Putnikovo Brdo 2 tunnel, part of which extends into the territory of the Federation of BiH /FBiH/. Višković said that the Republika Srpska Highways company had received written notification from the FBiH Highways company that the issue of approval for converting forest and agricultural land into construction land had been resolved, which should allow the procedure for issuing the construction permit to begin. He said that the section is highly important both for Corridor Vc and easing traffic congestion in Doboj. "Doboj will thus be relieved of traffic, and in a significantly better position during rush hour," Višković said.