North Macedonia seeks alternative for Kafasan–Trebenishta section of Corridor 8

Albania and North Macedonia are discussing an alternative alignment for the Kafasan–Trebenishta stretch of Corridor 8, Vice‑Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski said after visiting Struga, adding that talks are already under way and several options are being examined.

Road projects and the lakes' shoreline law

According to Nikoloski, the recommendation is to find a different route than the one included in the earlier agreement, so the alignment will be discussed with Albania and adjusted to avoid damage to cultural heritage and biodiversity. “We are already intensively communicating with the Republic of Albania and are examining certain options. A motorway will be built, it is no longer a question whether it will be built and that is the good news from UNESCO's recommendations. What needs to be done is only to choose an appropriate route so that it does not harm either the cultural‑historical heritage or biodiversity. And this is not the first project in which the route will be changed. The motorway from Gostivar to Bukojcani had one route, but there were also some issues related to ecology and protection of rare caves, one of which is perhaps the most significant in all of Southeast Europe, and we decided to change the alignment, to select a route that will protect everything necessary. We will do that here as well,” the minister stressed in response to journalists' questions after his visit to Struga.

Nikoloski also said the draft law regulating the shorelines of Lakes Ohrid, Prespa and Dojran is in its final phase and should be completed by the end of the year. He emphasised that until now there has been no law covering the three lakes’ shorelines and that the new legislation will fully respect the UNESCO recommendation for Lake Ohrid. The aim is to finish procedures so that by the start of the swimming season in March–April the previous problematic situations are avoided.

On the Tetovo motorway, Nikoloski said the first kilometres of the first section between Tetovo and Gostivar are expected next year, while the whole project is scheduled for completion in 2029. “The second section, to Bukojcani, where one of the key bridges has already been built, I expect to be completed by the end of 2029, and for the Bukojcani–Kichevo section we are waiting for the EBRD decision. Once we have it, I will also state the deadline, but according to initial estimates, it is almost three years,” Nikoloski said.

Work on the Izvor–Garski Most road is proceeding well, the minister said, although crews inherited major landslide problems. He announced an additional public call for tendering the works and underlined that the junction near the Treska River has been built to environmental standards, with specially designed water reservoirs and completed water and sewer infrastructure. “The dynamics there are good, even though we inherited big problems with landslides. It is a good project because it will shorten travel significantly and will avoid the route through Mavrovo and Radika. In the next period an additional public call for tendering the works will be made. At the junction between the two motorways Ohrid–Kichevo and Izvor–Garski Most or Kichevo–Debar there is an interchange near the Treska River that has been worked on according to all ecological standards. Special water reservoirs were made for full protection, there was no water and sewer system, and now they have been completely built and the entire area arranged, which I hope will be used when the motorway is put into operation,” the minister said.

Nikoloski said he maintains constant contact with the mayors of Ohrid, Resen and Dojran regarding the shorelines and that authorities are working to conclude all necessary steps before the next tourist season.

Photo: Government of North Macedonia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)