Bijedić: Start of Karaula Tunnel Construction is a Sign that BiH is Moving Forward

With the construction of the Karaula tunnel, which begins today from Olovo, the road from Sarajevo to Tuzla will be shortened by 3.6 km, and the highest point of the pass will be lowered by one hundred meters. This will not only facilitate and speed up travel on this section, but will certainly increase the traffic of people and goods between Tuzla and Sarajevo, said Ever Bijedić, Federal Minister of Transport and Communications, for the Bosnian news agency Patria (NAP).

- The start of the breakthrough of the Karaula tunnel is yet another proof that Bosnia and Herzegovina, no matter how slow it may seem, is moving forward – said Bijedić.

The main road leading over the Karaula pass is one of the most difficult roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which posed a problem for drivers especially in winter, when the road was often closed due to snowdrifts, NAP writes.

With the construction of the Karaula tunnel as well as bridges, drivers on this section will practically no longer have any difficulties.

- The length of the designed tunnel at Karaula is 902 meters, the contractor is Strabag AG, and the contracted price is about 24 million KM. The works will be completed in the next 16 months. A large number of domestic companies and local firms will also be engaged in the construction of this section – said Bijedić, Patria writes.