Completion of Macedonia Square floor fountain depends on imported equipment
City of Skopje aims to finish the fountain by September 1 for the José Carreras concert marking 35 years of independence, but some equipment is being imported from abroad.
The City of Skopje says it is pushing to finish the floor fountain on Macedonia Square by September 1 for the concert "José Carreras and Macedonian All-Stars," part of events marking 35 years of independence, but completion depends on when some equipment imported from abroad arrives.
Work on the fountain began on June 29. The municipality says the fountain had not been functioning for years and that there were incidents in the past when vehicles fell through the surface.
Technical upgrades and imported components determine the timeline
"The reconstruction is proceeding with increased intensity, but due to the complexity of the undertaking itself, the process requires more time. It is a complex system that includes specialized equipment produced in Germany, as well as automation that requires detailed servicing and readjustment. In addition to servicing the equipment, substantial structural improvement of the fountain is being carried out. The existing load-bearing substructure, which was made of plastic supports that held concrete slabs weighing about 100 kilograms per element, is being replaced with a new structure made of stainless steel profiles, designed for significantly greater mechanical loads. This will permanently increase the stability of the system and reduce the risk of damage like that which occurred in the past when vehicles entered the fountain surface. The new structure is already being manufactured in a specialized workshop, and its on-site assembly is expected to begin within the next ten days, after which the remaining steps will be taken," said the City of Skopje.
The City reports that the section of the square where the fountain sits is fully excavated: old components have been removed and new elements are being installed. Officials describe the intervention as both a technical overhaul and a strengthening of the fountain's bearing structure.
City representatives stress that while the construction schedule is accelerated, the final completion date will depend on the arrival of specific parts from abroad. If those shipments are delayed, the intended September 1 deadline for the José Carreras concert could be affected.
Photo: К. Попов)
