Croatia starts construction of traffic corridor Budapest–Osijek–Sarajevo–Ploče

While Serbia is thinking about the way for turning of branch of Corridor 10 from Budapest via Subotica, Novi Sad and Belgrade towards Požega, Croatia starts construction of traffic Corridor 5c, which is also the point of interest of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The workers of "Hrvatske šume“ from Đakovo have already commenced preparation of the terrain for construction of future highway Budapest–Osijek–Sarajevo–Ploče, whereas the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of BiH determined the route of the future road that will be passing through its territory.

The future highway will pass through Croatia through part of present hunting area "Mačkovac" and neighboring forests, which will be prepared and cleaned from the wood remnants. Of total of 96 kilometers through Croatia, about 87 kilometers of highway will go through Slavonija and Baranja, while the remaining part will go from the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina to Ploče. The first part of the route 23 kilometers long will be built on the section from Đakovo to Sredenci, which will be the meeting point of the present highway Zagreb–Belgrade with the future Corridor 5c. The connection with Bosnian part of Corridor 5c near Svilaj has also been defined.

The manager of Lumber Camp in Đakovo, Darko Radaš, announced that the earth works could start already in October.

Construction of highway from Đakovo to Bosnian border should be completed prior to Autumn 2007. The value of the works is estimated to about 570,000 HRK. The completion of the section from Đakovo to Osijek 32 kilometers long will be completed until 2008 and it will be followed by construction of connection with Hungary. The plan is that Croatian part of Budapest–Ploče highway be completely finished until 2010.

The highway section through Bosnia and Herzegovina is 340 kilometers long. It goes from Svilaj near Odžaci, through Modriča, Doboj, Zenica, Sarajevo, Jablanica, Mostar and Zvirovići (between Čapljina and Međugorje). The tunnels are 75.5 kilometers long with the longest one (6.5 km) going through Prenj mountain. Total length of the bridges is 33 km. The value of the works is about €2.5 billion.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications of BiH announced that the design of traffic study and justification study could be completed by the end of the year 2005. Design of project documentation will be financed from the sale of licenses to mobile telephony operators. The construction should start in 2007.

Construction of the highway that connects the Baltic area and south Adriatic area is in the pipeline for a long time. Two years ago, Bosnian Building Company "Bosmal" submitted offer for construction of highway on Corridor 5c on the basis of concession to the Council of Ministers of BiH. The plan is that 5 million KM be collected through consortium of world banks. It is estimated that the deadline for construction should be 5 years. This company, founded in 1998, obtained support from USA for the construction of highway and the guarantees for initial means from the Malaysia Islamic Bank. 169 building companies expressed interest in participation in construction of Corridor 5c after "Bosmal’s" invitation.