Sarajevo-Foča Highway Still Out of Service: Drivers Left to Catastrophic Dirt Road, Potholes, and Navigation

(Patria) - The official alternative route from Sarajevo to Foča via Kalinovik is a nightmare for drivers.

Seventeen kilometers of dirt road through the forest means a 40-minute drive on a road that is in extremely poor condition.

Given that there are no adequate traffic signs on the road, drivers rely on navigation.

The Sarajevo - Foča highway has been closed for three months due to landslides and mudslides caused by the construction of the "Bistrica" hydroelectric power plant, built by the Chinese company "Avic".

Jedna od najopasnijih cesta u BiH Sarajevo - Foča, zatvorena zbog odrona i klizišta, trebala je biti rekonstruisana novcem iz Plana rasta za Zapadni Balkan. Ali, zbog neusvajanja neophodnih zakona taj novac bi mogao biti izgubljen. pic.twitter.com/eKDZcpIJJR

— Radio Slobodna Evropa (@RSE_Balkan) May 8, 2026

On the closed road from Sarajevo to Foča, authorities have identified eight critical points, according to a video report by RSE.

The reconstruction of one of the most dangerous roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina was supposed to be financed by funds from the Western Balkans Growth Initiative.

However, due to the failure to adopt the necessary laws, this money could be lost. This would also endanger numerous entrepreneurs who depend on this road.

Republika Srpska authorities announced that the Sarajevo - Foča highway would be operational by May 1st, but this has not happened yet.

Neither the Roads of Republika Srpska nor the relevant ministry of the smaller entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina have specified when the repairs might be completed.