The cantonal directorate for roads of the Zenica-Doboj canton has initiated the procedure for the development of a project assignment for about two kilometers of the new route of the regional road R-457 Zenica – Arnauti – Donji Kakanj. The more than three-decade-old idea of a high-quality road connection between Zenica and Kakanj via Arnaut, that is, the Babinski basin in the area of Zenica and the Brnjičko basin in the municipality of Kakanj, should be turned into action already next year.
After the Minister for Spatial Planning, Transport and Communications and Environmental Protection of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, Adnan Šabani, held a meeting with the representatives of the “Kakanj” brown coal mine subsidiary at the end of November, authorities from the Cantonal Directorate for Roads ZDK and RMU “Kakanj” visited the location near Kondžil (Brnjic) yesterday.
– This is the first concrete step towards creating a project and announcing a tender. The project will be financed by the joint funds of the Cantonal Directorate, RMU Kakanj and Cementara Kakanj, and the bearer of the project is the Directorate, i.e. the relevant cantonal ministry headed by Minister Adnan Šabani – said Albin Ćatić, acting director of the Cantonal Directorate for Roads ZDK.
The Ministry of Spatial Planning, Transport and Communications and Environmental Protection of the Zenica-Doboj Canton and the Government of ZDK in the previous two years invested more than 2 million KM in the reconstruction of the regional road Zenica – Arnauti – Donji Kakanj.
– In addition to confirming our clear commitment to improving the regional road infrastructure, we also show that promises are turned into concrete actions – for the benefit of all residents and the economy of this region – said Minister Adnan Šabani.
During 2025, the Ministry finished asphalting the road through Arnaute and more than 500 meters of the Otok-Jelački potok route. About two kilometers remain until the final connection with the municipality of Kakanj, and the completion of this section, planned for 2026, will be a great relief for the residents of this part of the Zenica-Doboj canton.
