Skopje, 14 January 2025 (MIA) — The Gradsko-Farish express highway section between Gradsko and Drenovo was put into service on Tuesday, with top government officials and diplomats attending the ceremony of commissioning the road.

The 12.4-meter-wide and 15.5-kilometer-long section cost EUR 37.5 million to build. EUR 26.7 million was funded through EU's IPA program and EUR 10.6 million through the national budget. The section has three exit ramps: at Gradsko, Rosoman and Drenovo.

According to EU Ambassador Michalis Rokas speaking at the event, the Gradsko-Farish express highway is "more than 15 kilometers of modern infrastructure" that is now part of the Pan-European Corridor X.

Ambassador Rokas said the expressway would bring benefits to residents and businesses by shortening travel times and increasing traffic safety as well as connecting people to the remainder of Corridor X that goes through six countries, from Austria to Greece, "connecting current and future EU members, connecting the country with the world."

He also said Corridor X would strengthen North Macedonia's strategic position as a key transit hub in South-Eastern Europe. The expressway, Rokas added, was a critical part of the wider trans-European transport network connecting neighbors and partners.

According to Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, putting this section into service marks a new stage in the region's development, connecting Prilep, Bitola and Pelagonia.

"Corridors VIII and X as well as Xd are strategic for Macedonia, making it a crossroads of the Balkans," PM Mickoski said, adding that the state was focused on modernizing road infrastructure to contribute to regional connectivity.

Mickoski said work was under way on the Drenovo to Farish to Prilep, as well as the Prilep to Bitola, sections. He said they would be completed in 2027, when the Gostivar to Bukojchani to Kichevo highway was also expected to be finished, he said.

"Intense work has also been under way on the Tetovo to Gostivar road, which will become a highway," he said, adding that the Kichevo-Ohrid highway was expected to be finished in 2026.

Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski said the expressway had not been built sooner because, during the previous government's term, problematic slopes had not been addressed and about EUR 13 million was lacking to complete the highway construction.

Minister Nikoloski said the new government had worked on these problems over the summer and "on Sept. 12, the problems were solved." 

"From then on, until literally New Year's Eve, work was under way here and it got done," Nikoloski said.

State Roads director Koce Trajanovski said the express highway construction procedure had started in 2012, with the design and selection of contractors.

Trajanovski said the expressway was important because it connected Prilep, Bitola, Resen, Ohrid, and even the border with the Republic of Greece, and it would help boost regional development. mr/