In Bosnia and Herzegovina this year, a number of projects on the construction of modern roads are being implemented. The focus is on Corridor 5C, but some other highway and expressway projects are currently under construction.
An excellent report on this was made by the YouTube channel “On Croatian Roads”, and transmitted by BiznisInfo.ba.
As for Corridor 5C, several new sections have recently been completed. One of them is the section Poprikusa – Nemila, about ten kilometers long, where it includes the 3.6 kilometer long Bosna tunnel, which is currently the longest constructed tunnel in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This section was recently opened to traffic with the help of a temporary junction in Nemila.
Another recently completed section is the one between the town of Ponirak and the junction of Zenica North. At least 90% of that section is the Zenica tunnel, which is about 3.3 kilometers long. This tunnel cannot be opened to traffic until the section between this tunnel and Nemila is completed.
The construction of that 6.7-kilometer section, which includes two bridges over the Bosna River, several tunnels and three viaducts, is underway. According to some announcements, it could be completed during 2026, but footage from the construction site does not look optimistic for completion by the end of the year. In general experience, any deadline announcements related to Corridor 5C should be taken with a grain of salt.
Three joined shares
Further north, between Žepč and Doboj, construction of three sections is underway. Those sections are from the junction of Kostajnica, that is, Rudanka, to Putnikovo brdo, the section from Putnikovo brdo via Usora to Medakovo, and from Medakovo to Ozimica. According to the state of the works, the section Kostajnica – Putnikovo brdo is progressing very slowly. Among the largest facilities, it includes the construction of a bridge over the Bosna River and two tunnels.
The section from Usor junction to Medakovo is nearing completion. Only the final works remain, after which it could soon be open to traffic. The route includes the Usora junction, the bridge over the Usora river, a 220-meter-long covered trench and the Medakovo junction.
In terms of traffic, this section will gain importance with the completion of the next section Medakovo – Ozimica, which is 21.5 kilometers long. It starts after the Medakovo intersection, and the largest object is the Crni vrh tunnel, 2.2 kilometers long. At the end of the section is the junction Ozimice. According to announcements, the completion of this section is also expected by the end of the year.
Southern part of Corridor 5C
In the south of Corridor 5C, the construction of the Kvanj – Buna tunnel subsection, 5.2 kilometers long, is underway. The Kvanj tunnel was designed as a two-tube tunnel with a length of 2.7 kilometers. In addition to the tunnel, it will be necessary to build a 330-meter long viaduct before the subsection continues to the constructed section Buna – Počitelj. As part of the construction of this subdivision, the construction of a 1.4-kilometer connecting road with a temporary toll booth is planned.
Of the other sections of Corridor 5C, in the area of Žepč, from the Ozimice junction to the Poprikusa junction, construction has not yet started on the remaining 12 kilometers of the motorway in that section, just as it has not yet started on the sections from the Odžak junction to the Johovac junction in the north, and on the sections from the Ivan tunnel to the Kvanj tunnel in the south.
Situation in the north of Bosnia and Herzegovina
In the northeast of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the construction of at least one section of the future highway Vukosavlje – Brčko – Bijeljina – border with Serbia is underway. The section that is definitely under construction is the one from Bijeljina to the border with Serbia, with a total length of 20 kilometers.
Although the announcements speak of its completion by the end of 2026, the situation on the ground does not look at all optimistic for such a scenario, as the works are progressing very slowly.
The Bijeljina – Brčko District border section, 17 kilometers long, is not under construction, and the announcement is that construction could start soon in 2026. The Vukosavlje – Brčko District border section, 31.5 kilometers long, has reportedly officially started construction, at least partially, and more concrete works have been announced since the spring of this year. There is still no agreement for the route of this highway through Brčko District.
Banjaluka – Prijedor highway
Another highway under construction is the one from Banja Luka via Prijedor to Novi Grad. The section under construction is the first phase, 41 kilometers long between Prijedor and Banja Luka, and includes the construction of the Prijedor, Omarska and Kuljani nodes. In addition, 23 overpasses, 10 underpasses, 9 bridges, 7 viaducts, passages for animals and one rest area are planned on the route.
The story of the construction of this highway started in 2018 with the signing of the contract, and the official start of work was November 2021. At that time, it was announced that it would be completed within three years, but to date, the construction has barely moved from a standstill due to various problems.
Expressway through central BiH
In the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the construction of one of the sections of the future expressway Lašva – Travnik – Jajce began a few years ago. At the end of last year, the first section of that expressway was completed, the part from the future Vitez intersection, exit from the business zone to Čvora Nević polje, with a length of 4.8 kilometers.
Four bridges, one viaduct and Čvor Nević field were built. This section, although completed, is not open to traffic, because it can only be opened after the completion of the previous section through the Vitez business zone in the length of 560 meters. Construction has not yet started in that part, because land acquisition is still being resolved. Other sections from Lašva to Vitez and from Nević polje towards Travnik and Jajce are also not yet under construction.
New road to Goražde
Southeast of Sarajevo, the construction of the expressway Prača – Goražde is underway. Which project is 18.4 kilometers long and currently the expressway is being built in a semi-profile, one carriageway with two lanes. The Hranjen tunnel, which will be 5.5 kilometers long and will consist of two pipes, has been under construction on the route for many years.
One pipe will be intended for driving, and the other smaller pipe will be for service and will be used for tunnel maintenance, as well as for eventual accidents in the tunnel. After its construction, it will then become the longest tunnel built up to that point in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Sarajevo ring road is still under construction
West of Sarajevo, the construction of a part of the Sarajevo ring road, known as LOT 3B, is still underway. The length of the subdivision LOT 3B is 1.4 kilometers, and it is a road with four lanes and two viaducts, which will connect the Vlakovo junction on Corridor 5C and the Mostar intersection where the M17 and M5 highways cross.
Attempts have been made to build this less than one and a half kilometer for many years, but the project is marked by numerous problems with property and legal relations and permits, so the works actually stand still most of the time.
Expressway Mostar – the border of the Republic of Croatia
During February of this year, work officially began on the construction of the future expressway Mostar – Široki Brijeg – Grude – border with Croatia, which would have a total length of 60.7 kilometers. Construction has started on two sub-sections that fall under the section Polog – border with Croatia. These are the subdivisions of Polog – Polugrno – Podledinac and Podledinac – Grude East.
Polugrno – Podledinac with a total length of 5.5 kilometers includes the Polugrno junction with toll booths and a connecting road, three underpasses, one overpass and the Zvirnjače viaduct. Podledinac – Grude East with a total length of 6.3 kilometers includes two junctions with toll booths and connecting roads, two overpasses, one underpass and the Krštelica viaduct. The rest of the route is being prepared for implementation, but is not yet under construction.
Mostar bypass
Speaking of Mostar, although it is not a fast road, it is worth mentioning the southern bypass project of that city. According to the plan, the ring road extends from Polog to the future junction Mostar south on Corridor 5C.
The first section Polog – Miljkovići was completed at the end of 2019, but work is still ongoing on the section Miljkovići – tunnel Novi. That section to be put into traffic will wait for the construction of the section that continues to it, from the Novi tunnel to the Rodoč junction.
The construction of that next section has recently started and the plan is to complete it in the next two years. This includes the construction of a three-lane road with a lane for slow vehicles, the construction of the Privorac tunnel in “cut and cover” technology and the Rodoč viaduct.
At the end of the section, a temporary connection of the southern bypass of Mostar with a new roundabout is planned, which will enable connection with local roads and the M17 highway. When Corridor 5C is built up to the Mostar South intersection, according to the plan, this bypass would have a connection to that intersection as well.
