Construction Begins on Skopje–Blace Highway, Project Includes Five Tunnels and Eight Bridges

In the presence of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, North Macedonian state officials, and representatives of the EU and the EBRD, the foundation stone was laid today for the final ten kilometers of the Skopje–Blace highway. Work on this section is expected to be completed within four years.

North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described the launch of the project as a historic moment, stressing that construction of the Skopje–Blace highway is beginning after more than 20 years.

According to Mickoski, the project is being turned into reality by the government led by VMRO-DPMNE, VLEN, and ZNAM. He recalled that its implementation was among the commitments made at the beginning of the government’s term and one of its main priorities. Mickoski said he expects significant progress to be visible on the ground very soon and the project to be completed in record time.

He also expressed satisfaction that the construction work will be carried out by a Macedonian company. According to him, this will add value to the Macedonian economy and create more jobs for the citizens of North Macedonia, an issue he described as one of the government’s main priorities.

Meanwhile, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said the highway will bring Kosovo and North Macedonia, as well as the citizens of both countries, even closer together. He emphasized that the project’s value goes beyond infrastructure.

Kurti said the Skopje–Blace highway, with five tunnels, eight bridges, and eight galleries, will strengthen infrastructure links between Kosovo and North Macedonia. According to him, the route will facilitate travel and create new opportunities for citizens and both countries.

He added that every new kilometer of road represents an investment in citizens’ lives and in the economic development of both countries. Kurti said the project will enable businesses to transport goods more easily and forge new partnerships, while recalling that the road is part of the European “TEN-T” network, which brings Skopje and Pristina closer together.

Koce Trajanovski, director of the Public Enterprise for State Roads in North Macedonia, said the difficult terrain had necessitated plans for five tunnels and eight bridges along just 10.5 kilometers of road.

Trajanovski said the ceremony was not only laying the foundation stone for a highway, but also laying the foundation for a faster, safer North Macedonia that is better connected with its neighbors, the region, and Europe. He said the start of construction on the Skopje–Blace highway, from the Stenkovec interchange to the Blace border crossing, over a distance of around 10.5 kilometers, is an important step toward completing this strategic regional link.

According to him, the selection of “Granit” as the contractor has created the concrete conditions for the project to begin. Trajanovski emphasized that the investment is particularly important because it provides connections via Kosovo to the Port of Durrës, Albania, Montenegro, and Serbia.

He announced that financing has been secured through a €167.6 million loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as a €30.82 million grant from the Western Balkans Investment Framework. The project is also supported by PESR budget funds for expropriation and grant funds for the designers, Hill International and ADT Omega.

Outlining the technical specifications, Trajanovski said the highway will have two carriageways, each with two traffic lanes and an emergency lane. Its total width will be around 27.5 meters.

He described it as the most complex and difficult highway, as numerous tunnels, viaducts, bridges, and galleries will be built along a short section of just 10.5 kilometers. According to Trajanovski, the project will pose a challenge for both the designers and the contractors.

Due to the complex hilly and mountainous terrain, the project includes five twin-tube tunnels, eight bridges, 11 underpasses, four galleries, and nine retaining walls. The construction deadline is four years.