Skopje, 1 March 2026 (MIA) – After undergoing reconstruction, the bypass near Kriva Palanka was officially inaugurated Sunday at a ceremony with top government officials in attendance. It is a road 4.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide with horizontal and vertical signalling installed. Two bridges were also overhauled.

Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski called it a key road infrastructure, part of Corridor 8 that is “not only Kriva Palanka’s bypass but also a connection with neighbouring Bulgaria.”

Nikoloski announced that the Deve Bair border crossing with Bulgaria will be also reconstructed with the first stage, reconstruction of the existing premises, expected to be concluded by June. The border crossing will be expanded as part of the second stage.

We’re completing the eastern wing of Corridor 8 with the expressway to Stracin, the bypass and the reconstruction of the border crossing, said Nikoloski.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said hundreds of millions of euros will be invested in the coming period in the eastern part of the country in railway connection with Bulgaria, the second stage of the border crossing reconstruction, road infrastructure, etc. 

“Such investments will motivate people to come back home. We’ll continue to focus on capital investments,” he vowed.

The bypass was reconstructed according to all standards, noted Koce Trajanovski, director of the State Roads Public Enterprise. 

Photo: MIA