Tetovo-Prizren and Skopje-Blace road projects in Nikolloski’s focus

Minister of Transport and Communications, Aleksandar Nikolloski, announced today that works on the Tetovo-Prizren route are progressing as planned, adding that attention is now focused on securing financing and the construction of the cross-border tunnel.

He expressed satisfaction with the progress so far on this interstate road linking Macedonia with Kosovo. According to him, an inter-ministerial working group within the Public Enterprise for State Roads is drafting the project documentation, a task entrusted to the Faculty of Civil Engineering. The less difficult part of the route has already been completed, although the project as a whole remains highly complex. Nikolloski explained that data have been requested from the Faculty of Civil Engineering for the tunnel section that will cross the border, as the aim is to build a joint tunnel. Information has also been requested from the Kosovar side, because the gallery will start on our territory and emerge in Kosovo. Once this data is received, the faculty will begin designing the tunnel solution.

The minister also announced the establishment of an interstate commission with experts from both countries to advance this initiative. This body includes officials from the Ministry of Transport, the Public Enterprise for State Roads, and the Government of Kosovo. During recent talks with his counterpart in Thessaloniki, about three weeks ago, the importance of the project was discussed extensively and joint next steps were set. Nikolloski stressed that work is progressing at a satisfactory pace, but reminded that the difficult terrain in the Shar Mountain area makes this an extremely costly and complex undertaking.

In today’s parliamentary session, he also announced the start of a new highway that will stretch from Bukojçani to Kërçovë, connecting with the existing Ohrid–Kërçovë route. This initiative, according to the minister, has secured financial support from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Before lawmakers, Nikolloski also recalled that the agreement for the construction of the Skopje–Blace highway has been signed.