Hercegovina Bridge on Road Corridor Vc now open for traffic
On 4 September, the Hercegovina Bridge and the entire Počitelj-Zvirovići sub-section on Road Corridor Vc was opened in the presence of senior officials from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia.
The project was financed with a €5 million EU grant, as well as a €100 million loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) for part of the Počitelj-Bijača section which stretches 21 kilometres. These new constructions are a vital component of the Corridor Vc motorway which is Bosnia and Herzegovina's largest infrastructure project.
Stefano Ellero, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina underlined that the completion of the bridge is a symbol of progress, cooperation and the long-lasting partnership between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union. “More than just infrastructure, this bridge symbolises the power of connection, linking two sides of the Neretva River, uniting communities and countries. Furthermore, beyond improving mobility, this bridge plays a crucial role on a larger plan. As part of the Corridor Vc motorway, the bridge will strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s ties with the EU and the region and deepen economic integration", said Ellero.
This project is part of the EU broader commitment to the development of Corridor Vc, with €871 million in grants provided so far under the Western Balkans Investment Fund (WBIF).
EIB Vice-President Robert de Groot emphasised that "As one of the largest in the region, this impressive new bridge and related road infrastructure will generate new economic opportunities for people in both countries by accelerating trade, commuting and travel”.
The 335-kilometre-long Corridor Vc forms part of the EU’s Western Balkans-East Mediterranean transport corridor, starting in Budapest and running through Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It falls under Flagship 2 – Connecting North to South in the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan.
Test loan on Hercegovina bridge, August 2024 (c) JP Autoceste
Road Corridor Vc Factsheet, October 2024
More about the Corridor Vc flagship investments here
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