First meters of Počitelj tunnel broken through

(Patria) - In addition to activities on the Buna – Počitelj sub-section, where works are slowly entering the final phase, works on the construction of the 11 km long Počitelj – Zvirovići sub-section have also intensified in the Herzegovina region.

The Počitelj – Zvirovići sub-section, which is part of the Počitelj – Bijača section, is divided into two lots.

LOT 1 covers the highway route from the Počitelj interchange to the beginning of the Počitelj bridge and from the end of the Počitelj bridge to the Zvirovići interchange. Surface excavation has been completed along the entire route, and earthworks and foundation laying for individual structures are currently underway. At the Počitelj tunnel, approximately 1200 meters long, underground excavation and breakthrough for both tubes have begun at the southern portal (currently, the right tube is broken through for a length of 35 m, and the left for 10 m). In the next period, the plan is to continue earthworks, primarily excavation and embankment construction. It is also planned to start works on the construction of the Ševaš Njive underpass, the Gradina overpass, bridges M2, M3, and M4, as well as the breakthrough of the Počitelj tunnel from the north side. Currently, 160 workers and engineers and more than 90 machines are engaged in the construction.

LOT 2 covers the construction of the colossal Počitelj bridge, one of the most complex structures on the entire Corridor Vc, 975 meters long and with a maximum pier height of 100 meters, the construction of which will connect the two banks of the Neretva River. Works on the construction of the access bridge over the Neretva River are nearing completion – embankment work is currently being carried out at the abutment on the right bank of the river. Further planned activities include the construction of piles at pier location S4 for static pile testing, and the arrangement of construction offices and the construction concrete plant is also planned to continue.

The contractor for LOT 1 is China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (China), while the works on the bridge construction (LOT 2) are carried out by a consortium consisting of Azvirt Limited Liability Company (Azerbaijan), Sinohydro Corporation Limited (China), and Powerchina Roadbridge Group Co. Ltd. (China).

The construction of the Počitelj – Zvirovići sub-section is financed by funds secured under the Loan Agreement concluded with the European Investment Bank (EIB) in the amount of 100 million euros and non-reimbursable funds from the European Union in the amount of 5 million euros secured within the framework of the Connecting Europe Facility through the Investment Framework for the Western Balkans (WBIF).

The estimated construction period for Lot 1 is 24 months, and for Lot 2, 30 months.

In southern Herzegovina, in addition to activities on the Buna – Počitelj and Počitelj – Zvirovići sections, works on the construction of the Kvanj Tunnel – Buna section, with a total length of 5.25 kilometers, will commence in 2020. The Kvanj Tunnel – Buna section will feature the construction of the twin-tube Kvanj tunnel, with the right tube being 2,645 m long and the left tube 2,720 m long, a viaduct, and an overpass, while the rest of the route connects to the Buna – Počitelj section. Additionally, within this project, the regional road Buna – Domanovići, with a total length of 14.5 km, will be reconstructed.

The Kvanj Tunnel – Buna section will be financed by funds secured from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and potential non-reimbursable grant funds approved by WBIF.