Mediterranean Corridor: Bosnia and Herzegovina - Croatia CVc Road Interconnection, Svilaj - Odžak Section

The Mediterranean Corridor links the Iberian Peninsula with the Hungarian – Ukrainian border. Its extension into the Western Balkans connects Central Europe, specifically Hungary and eastern Croatia, to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Adriatic Sea. The longest section of the Mediterranean Corridor (CVc) runs through Bosnia and Herzegovina – approximately 340 km in total. It consisted largely of two-lane roads until the early 2000s when a major road upgrading programme started on most of its routes.

This action concerns the construction of a cross-border bridge over the River Sava, with border-crossing infrastructure, as well as 10 km of motorway on the Svilaj – Odžak section that is being built between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, along the Mediterranean Corridor (CVc).

The road network in Bosnia and Herzegovina covers more than 8,000 km, more than 1,000 km of which are European routes. Most of this network has been designed to accommodate a two-way single-carriageway with a maximum speed of 80kph. Traffic lane width varied from 3.50 to 3.75m, and road shoulders from 0.5 to 1m wide. As average daily traffic volumes grew to over 9,700 vehicles, with a corresponding increase in freight volumes, Bosnia and Herzegovina embarked on a motorway construction programme in cooperation with its neighbours. It has been actively supported by the European Union and its partners, particularly under the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

The Svilaj – Odžak section is part of the motorway designed and partially built by Bosnia and Herzegovina along the Mediterranean Corridor (CVc) to Croatia. The route will accommodate 2x2 traffic lanes and speeds of 120kph. Construction works are ongoing for this section. The new bridge over the Sava and the border crossing facilities funded under this project will allow even increased traffic volumes to flow smoothly. Relying on existing infrastructure would undoubtedly have resulted in serious bottlenecks.

The funding granted to Bosnia and Herzegovina will be complemented and coordinated with EU financing allocated to the Croatian part of the project under Regional Funds.

Results:

• Modern and efficient border crossing facilities on the Svilaj – Odžak section of the Mediterranean Corridor (CVc).
• 600m cross-border bridge over the River Sava.
• Completion of the Svilaj – Odžak motorway section, including the cross-border areas.

Benefits:

• Secure and efficient transport by road for an annual average daily traffic gradually increased to more than 9,799 vehicles per day.
• 2x2 traffic lanes and speeds of 120kph replacing single carriageways limited to 80kph.
• Future border crossing delays are avoided by the new bridge over the River Sava and modern border crossing facilities.
• Passenger and freight carrying capacity significantly improved, with reduced travel time.
• Lower operational and maintenance costs for motorway operators and users.
• The investment will facilitate trade, regional integration and sustainable growth and thus have a positive impact on the broader economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.