Novalić on the Nević Polje-Vitez section: We are starting to build peripheral expressways

(Patria) - For the construction of the section from the Nević Polje interchange to the Vitez interchange (exit from the Business Zone), 74.9 million KM with VAT has been allocated from the Budget of the Federation of BiH. The deadline for completion of works is 20 months.

Otherwise, this is the fifth LOT of the future Lašva - Nević Polje expressway, with a total length of 24.3 kilometers, which has been declared a road of public interest by the Government of the FBiH. The other four LOTs consist of the sections Lašva - Kaonik, Kaonik - Selište, Selište - Vitez (Vitez interchange - entrance to the Business Zone), Business Zone Vitez (Vitez interchange - entrance to the Business Zone - Vitez interchange exit from the Business Zone).

JP Autoceste FBiH is responsible for expropriation on the first, second, third, and fifth LOTs, and JP Ceste FBiH on the fourth.

Novalić stated that he is very satisfied that five years after the money was secured, the project that will relieve the busiest junction in BiH, through which 18,000 vehicles pass daily, has finally begun.

"This is an expressway from Lašva towards Travnik which will be continued towards Jajce and represents the first exit from Corridor 5C which passes through the Bosna and Neretva valleys," said Novalić.

He added that the FBiH Government will improve road infrastructure in regions such as central Bosnia, Krajina, western Herzegovina, and the Tuzla region in the future.

"The pressure from the population living outside the Corridor 5C zone has been very high, and we are responding to it and starting to build peripheral expressways," stated Novalić.

Edin Honić, Head of Project at JP Autoceste FBiH, specified that the construction of four bridges and one viaduct is planned for this section, as well as the relocation of the Lašva riverbed, which makes the section very demanding.

Tomislav Ivanković, site manager for the contractor Hering, explained that from an organizational point of view, this is a very complicated section with seven structures, including different types of foundations, as well as the relocation of the riverbed over a length of five kilometers.

At the end of April this year, JP Autoceste FBiH and the construction company Hering from Široki Brijeg, which is the contractor, signed an agreement enabling the start of the construction of the Lašva – Nević Polje expressway. After that, Hering's workers completed the preparatory works, which included preventive archaeological research, additional exploratory drilling, site clearing, demolition of structures, logging, relocation of utilities, and construction of access roads, thereby creating conditions for the start of the main works.

Ultimately, the Lašva - Travnik - Jajce expressway will significantly reduce travel time and improve traffic safety, as it is one of the busiest road routes in our country.

JP Autoceste FBiH plans to connect the western part of BiH, namely Bihać, Cazin, and Velika Kladuša via Ključ and Jajce, with the central part on Corridor 5C and further with the eastern part of the country in the continuation of the expressway construction.