The first 5.5 kilometer section of the Nis-Merdare highway officially opened

The first section of the Nis-Merdare highway, 5.5 kilometers long, has been opened for traffic today, the Government has announced. Section 1, from Merosina to Merosina 1, is the first of four sections of Sector 1, stretching from Nis to Beloljina in total length of 32.65 kilometers.

The first section, from Merosina to Merosina 1, is 5.5 km long, the section 2 from Merosina 1 to Prokuplje East is 8.8 km long, section 3 from Prokuplje East to Prokuplje West is 12.8 km long, while the last section from Prokuplje West to Beloljin, 5.6 km long.

Project financing for the entire Sector 1 in the amount of EUR 225.6 million was provided through the WBIF Investment Grant in the amount of EUR 40.6 million and the loans from the EBRD and the EIB in the amount of EUR 185 million.

The total length of the Nis-Merdare highway is 77 kilometers, and plan includes construction of 88 bridges, seven level crossings and 35 tunnels.

The E-80 Nis-Merdare highway is a road of high priority for the Republic of Serbia, because it will connect the south of Serbia to Pristina and will become part of the road network that leads to Durrës via Tirana.

This will connect Serbia with the ports on the Adriatic Sea, and it is a priority infrastructure project that enables the economic and social development of the country, as well as a stronger connection of the entire region.

The opening of the section in Merosina was attended by the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, the head of the EU delegation in Serbia Emanuele Giofrè, the Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic, the Minister of European Integration Tanja Miscevic, the director of the Corridor of Serbia Aleksandar Antic.

On this occasion, Vucic thanked the EU for the great help, as well as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), which helped in the construction of this capital infrastructure facility on very favorable terms.

The President of Serbia pointed out that it is very important to strengthen the south of Serbia, which he stated is one of the most beautiful parts of our country.

The head of the EU Delegation in Serbia, Emanuel Giofrè, said today that the "Highway of Peace" should be a path of stability and reconciliation in the region, and that it will connect the south of Serbia with the Western Balkan road network.

Giofrè pointed out that for him the construction of roads symbolizes European integration.

- We will continue the work on road construction and contribute to making people's journeys safer and more efficient - said Giofrè and added that this highway will be the backbone of the regional road network.

The opening of the Nis-Merdare highway section was attended by the Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic, the Minister of European Integration Tanja Miscevic, the director of the Corridor of Serbia Aleksandar Antic, the president of the municipality of Merosina Sasa Jovanovic, the mayor of Nis Dragana Sotirovski, representatives of the EBRD and others.

The interchange "Merosina East" was built on this section of the highway, as well as two bridges and two overpasses, with a total length of about 285 meters.

The contractor for section 1 is the Consortium Strabag AG and Strabag d.o.o. Belgrade.

Strabag d.o.o. Beograd

EBRD Evropska banka za obnovu i razvoj Beograd

Evropska investiciona banka EIB

Delegacija Evropske unije u Republici Srbiji Beograd

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Ministarstvo za evropske integracije Republike Srbije

Koridori Srbije d.o.o. Beograd

Predsedništvo Republike Srbije

EBRD

EIB

President of Serbia

Aleksandar Antic

Tanja Miscevic

Goran Vesic

Emanuele Giofre

Aleksandar Vucic

Niš Merdare highway

Merosina Merosina 1

Nis Beloljin

Highway of peace