The most difficult part of the Kërçovë – Ohër highway to open for traffic within two months

The most technically complex segment of the Kërçovë–Ohër highway, which stretches from the village of Izvor in Kërçovë to the village of Vërbjan in Debarca, will be opened for traffic within the next two months. With this opening, the passage through the Preseka mountain pass will be completely avoided.

The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Aleksandar Nikolloski, during his appearance on the evening show on TV Alfa.

According to Nikolloski’s explanations, this is the most difficult construction project ever undertaken in Macedonia’s road network, which includes viaducts, bridges, four galleries, and the two longest tunnels in the country.

Regarding the tunnels, the minister said that the first is 1,990 meters long, while the second reaches 2,100 meters. They are equipped with modern technology for early fire detection, traffic management, fire-resistant doors, and special fans. He added that with the opening of these ten kilometers in less than two months, drivers will no longer need to use the old road through Preseka.

The minister announced that so far 37 kilometers of the route have been fully completed, of which 34 kilometers are already operational. After the opening of the Preseka segment, the sections above Kërçovë and the critical point near the village of Botun remain to be finished, with completion expected in the first half of next year.

At the same time, the issue of soil and groundwater in the area of the village of Botun is being addressed. Due to the terrain characteristics, special machinery has been brought in from abroad.

Regarding this, Nikolloski emphasized that the soil at Botun contains exceptionally large amounts of groundwater and that to ensure the long-term stability of the highway, work is being carried out up to 24 meters deep, which is equivalent to the height of a three-story building. He added that at this depth, over 5,000 reinforced concrete and iron piles are being installed. Because there was no such machinery in the country, five special machines were secured from abroad, of which two are already in operation, while three more are on the way. The minister also announced that on Tuesday the ministry will give a detailed presentation of this construction undertaking on site.

In conclusion, Nikolloski stressed that although the project was delayed for many years, after the acceleration of works since October 2024, the entire 57-kilometer length of the highway will be completed within two and a half years of actual work.