Optimal direction for Sarajevo-Belgrade high-speed route presented – Construction of 113.4-km road across Praca to cost around EUR 1 billion

Two Sarajevo-based institutes, Ipsa and Eptisa B&H, have filed and submitted technical studies of the construction of the Sarajevo-Vardiste high-speed route to the EU Delegation to B&H, defining five options for the construction of the Sarajevo-Belgrade high-speed route, its total length and price of all directions with instructions.

The first and the least favorable direction proposed is Pale-Sokolac-Rogatica, 113.2 kilometers long, which would cost EUR 1.2 billion.

The most favorable direction goes through Praca and would cost EUR 994.6 million. This 113.4-km direction would go from Praca, through the Hrenovica canyon, along the bank of the river Drina and through Ustipraca towards Vardiste, Municipality of Visegrad.

– The alternatives prepared for the speed of 80 kilometers per hour are cheaper compared to those done for the speed of 100 kilometers per hour, although they are longer, whereas the structures are considerably shorter. The recommendation is to keep the full high-speed route profile, while implementing limits for the speed of 80 kilometers per hour – the experts say in the study.

The experts from Ipsa and Eptisa B&H have envisaged the construction of interchanges at Lukavica, Pale, Sokolac, Praca, Hrenovica, Mesici, Ustipraca and Visegrad on the Sarajevo-Belgrade high-speed route.

The study doesn't define whether an open or a closed toll collection system will be included. As the corridor is narrow, there are several spots in which the high-speed route collides with highways and other roads.

The Government of Turkey has expressed interest in financing the route, and, following the presentation of the study, the authorities should agree on which direction is the most favorable and efficient.

IPSA institut d.o.o. Sarajevo

EPTISA BH d.o.o. Sarajevo

Delegacija Evropske unije u BiH Sarajevo

Sarajevo Vardiste high speed route

Sajarevo Vardiste

Belgrade Sarajevo high speed route

Belgrade Sarajevo

river Hrenovica

river Drina

Government of Turkey

Praca

Sarajevo Belgrade high speed route most favorable direction