Kičevo–Bukojčani motorway: construction begins
Twelve-kilometre section through mountainous terrain will link Ohrid–Kičevo and Bukojčani–Gostivar; major bridges, tunnel and interchanges planned.
Construction has started on the 12-kilometre Kičevo–Bukojčani section of the motorway that will link the Ohrid–Kičevo and Bukojčani–Gostivar motorways. The route runs through mountainous terrain and is planned as a modern highway with two traffic lanes and an auxiliary lane on each side, plus green belts.
Major structures and high design speed
Officials said the new stretch includes complex engineering works: five bridges and viaducts, a 370-metre tunnel and two interchanges. "The designed speed of movement will be from 110 to 130 kilometres per hour. What is most difficult is the construction of five bridges and viaducts, one tunnel 370 meters long and two interchanges, which is extremely significant," said Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski.
Koce Trajanovski, director of the Public Enterprise for State Roads, said the section will close a gap in the north–west corridor. "We will get an uninterrupted motorway from Skopje, via Tetovo, Gostivar and Kičevo, to Ohrid. It will be a modern motorway without stopping, that is, without tolls. We hope that the trip from Skopje to Ohrid will take less than an hour and a half," he said.
The project is part of Corridor VIII and is financed by a €119 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and a €20 million grant from the European Union. "Through such infrastructure projects we are committed to strengthening the country's infrastructure and giving an impetus to the development of the private sector," said Fatih Turkmenoglu, head of the EBRD Office.
EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas added that Brussels remains a committed partner. "As we build key infrastructure together, the European Union remains a committed partner to North Macedonia. We support a country that becomes better connected and more competitive, and thus an important contributor to a better connected and more competitive Europe," he said.
Authorities report that 97 percent of land expropriation along the route is complete. The motorway is expected to be built within four years; construction will be carried out by a consortium of Strabag and Duna.
Photo: press material from the event
