Work on Skopje’s Macedonia Square floor fountain started, then stalled — city: repair needs more time

The in-ground fountain at "Macedonia" Square in Skopje, which had not functioned for years, was scheduled for repair this year, but after initial activities the work stopped and it is not clear when it will operate again. Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski about a month ago reported that construction works had begun and that the fountain would soon be put into operation.

After the removal of the tiles and the uncovering of the mechanics, the area remained open for a long time and from afar it does not look like active construction work is being carried out. The photograph from July 30, 2026 shows that the fountain is uncovered but not operational.

The City of Skopje explains that the reconstruction is being carried out by the Public Enterprise "Vodovod i Kanalizacija" with increased pace, but that the undertaking is complex and requires more time. They cite specialized equipment manufactured in Germany and automation that entails detailed servicing and re-calibration.

The existing load-bearing substructure, which had previously been made from plastic supports that held concrete slabs weighing about 100 kilograms per element, is being replaced with a new structure of stainless steel profiles designed for significantly greater mechanical loads. With this intervention, the City says, long-term stability should be increased and the risk of damage from vehicles entering the surface reduced.

Production in the workshop and expected schedule

The new stainless steel structure is already being fabricated in a specialized workshop, and the City announces that its installation on site will begin within the next ten days, after which the remaining activities will follow. "Our goal is not to put the fountain into operation only temporarily, but to carry out the reconstruction thoroughly, with a quality and long-term solution that will ensure safe and secure functioning," the City emphasizes.

The municipality recalls that the other fountains in the central area — "Warrior on Horse", "Philip II", "Prometheus" and the two fountains by the ministries — are operational, and that they remain committed to the gradual and quality refurbishment of the city centre.

The fountain was built as part of the "Skopje 2014" project, was put into use in 2015 and cost 2.5 million euros. It quickly became a summer attraction for children, but in 2017 a truck fell into it while a stage for a celebration was being set up, and a few years later a Municipal Hygiene vehicle also fell into it — after those incidents the fountain ceased to operate. Maintenance was entrusted to the Public Enterprise "Vodovod i Kanalizacija", which maintains the 12 fountains in the central urban area.

The enterprise had announced repairs for years, and during the COVID period they said that the repair would be carried out after the crisis ended and that a damage assessment had been made. However, the investment plans for 2025 did not include funds for reconstruction, and the City did not give a precise date when the works will be finalized.

Photo: press material from the event