DODIK: HIGHWAY SECTION FROM RAČA TO BIJELJINA TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR

TREBINJE, August 19 /SRNA/ - Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik stated that the highway section from Rača to Bijeljina will be completed by the end of next year.

"Some may not want to see it, but what is statistically clear is that the highway stretch from Rača to Bijeljina must be finished by the end of next year. And it will be finished by the end of next year. Almost all property-legal, earthwork, and preparatory operations have been completed," Dodik told reporters in Trebinje.

He emphasized that asphalt will already be laid on some sections this year.

"What is also good is that Serbia is expected to complete the route from Kuzmin to Rača and the Rača bridge by the end of this year. This is the first time in history that this part of Republika Srpska is being connected with Serbia in this way," Dodik noted.

He pointed out that the highway is under construction and that works are visibly ongoing.

"I want to bring good news to the people of Republika Srpska, those of good intent, and say that we are at the final stage of signing the contract for the next highway section from Bijeljina to the border line with Brčko District. That will be another 40 kilometers of highway. I believe that in the next two and a half years we will complete this section from Bijeljina to the boundary with Brčko District, and that we will continue further," Dodik said.

He underlined that the main problem is reaching agreement with the Brčko District authorities on the route of the highway.

"They are directing us to a route that is 25 kilometers longer than the one we prefer," Dodik explained.

He recalled that throughout history various rulers of this region, from the Turks to the Austro-Hungarians, and even the communist, always sought to keep BiH, now Republika Srpska, disconnected from Serbia across the Drina.

"That is why you can see only a few non-functional bridges there. Only when we started building new bridges over the Drina and now over the Sava at Rača did we secure functional connectivity, which is more than appropriate," Dodik stressed.

He emphasized that Republika Srpska is determined to complete these capital projects.

According to Dodik, works on the highway from Modriča to the other side of Brčko District are already underway and visible.

"We want, as construction experts say, to 'attack' all construction sites and fully connect the Banjaluka-Belgrade highway, despite the problems we face with Brčko District. Along this route, a main gas pipeline will be built, stretching to Banjaluka and further to Novi Grad. I believe that within the next four years we will complete this gas pipeline," Dodik said.

He added that by the end of the year, a conceptual design for an expressway in Herzegovina will be proposed.

"That means four lanes from Trebinje towards Bileća and Gacko in the first phase, and later an equally fast road with three lanes at busier and more difficult points further towards Foča, Rudo, and all the way to Višegrad, to connect with corridors from Serbia and continue northward through Republika Srpska," Dodik explained.

He emphasized that Republika Srpska currently has investments worth more than BAM 3 billion.

"This is generating business for many companies that are engaged in these projects, such as the Gornji Horizonti and Bistrica hydro projects and many others. Republika Srpska is literally buzzing with construction activity," Dodik concluded.