Skopje, 25 May 2023 (MIA) - The Ministry of Transport and Communications is planning the design of a new expressway from Kumanovo to Rankovce, and has applied for funds under the IPA III Programme, informed Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski, at an event that concluded the rehabilitation of the main road from Kumanovo to Stracin on the eastern section of Corridor 8.

EUR 11.8 million have been invested in the reconstruction of the 31 km long road, in two phases, from Kumanovo to Vojnik village, (15 km) and from Vojnik to Stracin, (16 km). The activities included the rehabilitation of the ring road near Kumanovo.

"As a continuation of this project, we are constructing the Rankovce-Kriva Palanka expressway, with an EUR 60 million investment, and we are also working on widening the Kriva Palanka-Dever Bair border crossing road with a third lane, for which EUR 12 million have been invested. Our plans include designing a new expressway from Kumanovo to Rankovce, for which we have already applied under the IPA III Programme. With all these capital projects, we are completely closing the eastern section of Corridor 8 as a new modern route that will have strong economic significance for North Macedonia," said Bochvarski.

The Minister reiterated that the Government remains committed to completing the European Corridors 8 and 10d, because mapping Corridor 8 as one of the main European corridors means great support from the EU, additional financial resources, and motive to complete its construction as soon as possible. ssh/sk/