The Public Enterprise for State Roads of North Macedonia (PESR) has launched a tender procedure for the construction of an important section of the Pan-European Corridor VIII, BalkanEngineer.com has learned from SeeNews.com. The tender concerns the 10.7-kilometre road section between Bukoichani and Kichevo, which will be part of the strategic transport route connecting Albania, North Macedonia and Bulgaria.

The project will include the construction of a motorway with two lanes of traffic in each direction, as well as supporting facilities such as a tunnel, bridges, culverts and drainage systems. The construction of the road will not only provide modern transport infrastructure, but also increase transport connectivity between the three Balkan countries. The project also provides for the construction of emergency and shoulder lanes as well as ensuring safety through the construction of retaining structures and road junctions. A five-year maintenance period will also be included to ensure the long-term durability of the infrastructure.
The tender for pre-qualification will be open until 17 March this year. The tender is part of the efforts of the Government of North Macedonia to secure financial support and continue progress in the construction of the transport corridor, which is of key importance for the region.
The project will be financed by a 110 million euro loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), with the cost of the project itself estimated at around 130 million euro. The remaining 20 million euro will be provided through a Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) grant.

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