Skopje, 8 March 2023 (MIA) - The Bechtel and Enka consortium should launch operations on April 22, 2023, for the construction of the highway sections Tetovo-Gostivar (17.5 km), Gostivar-Bukojchani (30.3 km) and Prilep-Bitola (39.3 km), and for the section Trebenishta-Struga-Qafasan (21.7 km) on December 12. 

Under the agreement signed at the Government on Wednesday, for the construction of highway sections at a total length of 110 km worth EUR 1.3 billion, the contractor is to design and construct individually or through domestic design firms and companies.

After signing the agreement on Wednesday, State Roads director Ejup Rustemi and First Deputy PM Artan Grubi said highway sections at a length of 23 km will be built on average per year, and the average price will be EUR 12 million per kilometer. 

Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski said prices are backed on the basis of a feasibility study prepared by the Faculty of Civil Engineering and revised by the consulting company Grand Thorton. 

"The agreement was drawn up according to the principle of FIDIC contracts, which is the principle of measured quantities. This means that the payments will be made according to works performed on the ground, and thus there will be full transparency of the works performed and the funds spent," said Bochvarski.

The entire construction should be completed by 2027. The plan provides for 33 months for the construction of highway section Tetovo-Gostivar, 49 months for Trebenishta-Struga-Qafasan, and 57 months for Gostivar-Bukojchani and Prilep-Bitola.  

The Government approved the agreement on Tuesday, following the adoption of IRD’s Report of the negotiations with Bechtel and Enka by the Managing Committee for the project.