Prilep, 2 November 2024 (MIA) - Construction on the Prilep-Bitola highway, part of Corridor 10d, is intensifying. The project is set to be completed within three years, by the end of 2027, and aims to boost economic development in the southwestern region. This was confirmed during Saturday's inspection by government officials, including Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski, and Director of the State Roads public enterprise, Koce Trajanoski. Representatives from the construction company Bechtel-Enka and US Ambassador Angela Aggeler also attended.

Currently, work is being carried out on 6 kilometers of the 40-kilometer highway section. Of the 1,300 parcels, 850 have been expropriated, and explosive devices have been cleared from around 100 out of 500 hectares, with assistance from the Army. Out of approximately 19,500 potential explosive materials discovered so far, 200 have been removed.

“We are currently a step ahead of Bechtel-Enka. They had been waiting due to pending expropriation and demining issues, but now that these have been settled, we will not be paying as many penalties. Instead, 'Bechtel and Enka' need to keep pace with us,” Koce Trajanoski, Director of the State Roads public enterprise, said.

Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikolovski underscored the significance of the highway for the economic growth of the municipalities in the southwestern region.

"This highway connects two significant centers in Macedonia, Prilep and Bitola, and also provides access to the border with Greece, specifically to our second border crossing, which facilitates full access for tourism and economic development. This will revive the economy of the entire Pelagonia region, further improving the good economic performance in this area, opening new well-paid job opportunities, and encourage people to see their future here," Nikoloski said.

Prime Minister Mickoski expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the ground.

"It is essential that we are ahead of the pace of the construction company so that we do not slow down the process. From what I've gathered through informal talks with those in charge, it looks like we should achieve our goals by around the end of 2027," Mickoski said.

The Prilep-Bitola highway is projected to be completed by the end of 2027. Together with the express road from Gradsko to Prilep, which is being built in three phases and is slated for completion within a year, these projects will fundamentally transform the region's landscape.

Photo: MIA