Osmani: Travelling between Skopje-Pristina to reduce from two hours to less than one

The construction of Skopje-Blace highway and its connection to Pristina-Blace highway, whose construction is underway, will slash the travel time between Skopje and Pristina from over 2 hours to less than an hour.

This was said by Deputy PM for European Affairs Bujar Osmani, who chaired Wednesday the first ministerial meeting focused on reviewing possibility and identifying initial steps for timely preparation and realisation of project for construction of Skopje-Blace highway.

“Skopje-Blace project is complex project which foresees construction of road infrastructure on complex terrain including several tunnels, bridges, aqueducts and other accompanying elements. The construction of Skopje-Blace highway and its connection to Pristina-Blace highway, whose construction is in progress, will slash the travel time between Skopje and Pristina from over 2 hours to less than an hour,” Osmani stressed.

He underlined the project’s importance for regional connection of Macedonia, which represents also one of the main pillars in EU integration process of Western Balkans.

“The highway connecting to Pristina is a project of exceptional importance for the economic, social and cultural connection of Macedonia with the region,” Osmani said.

Several conclusions were adopted at today’s meeting, including conclusion on the urgency of the realisation of the funds provided by the IPA instrument “Investment Framework for the Western Balkans,” which approved and secured €1,300,000 for preparation of the necessary documentation for development of road design.

Due to strategic importance of the project and its complexity, the government formed ministerial working group, which aside from Osmani who is chairman, also includes Deputy PM for Economic Affairs and coordination with economic resources Koco Angjusev, Finance Minister Dragan Tevdovski, Transport Minister Goran Sugarevski, Economy Minister Kresnik Bektesi, Director of the Public Enterprise for State Roads Zoran Kitanov and head of Macedonia’s road maintenance company Gajur Kadriju.

Moreover, technical working group was also established, which include members of the technical staff and experts from the relevant departments responsible for the implementation of Skopje-Blace project.