Skopje, 25 April 2026 (MIA) - Deputy PM and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski has said that the Kichevo-Ohrid motorway nears completion.

"The Government is committed to completing this project, with 37 km already finished, of which 34 km are operational. We expect the motorway to be finished by the end of the year. On the Struga-Kjafasan section, there are certain challenges related to UNESCO and I expect a solution by June," Deputy PM Nikoloski told Kurir.

He says infrastructure is the number one priority of the Government.

"We have already rehabilitated the Deve Bair border crossing and it is currently being enlarged. We put into operation the Kriva Palanka ring road; the Kriva Palanka-Stracin expressway, the Tetovo-Gostivar and Gostivar-Bukojchani motorway sections are currently being constructed. As of next year, we plan to work on projects supported through the EU Growth Plan," says Nikoloski.

On the railway, the Deputy PM says big connectivity projects with Bulgaria are ongoing.

"Last year, we put into use the Kumanovo-Beljakovce section, we are now working on Beljakovce-Kriva Palanka, whereas the tender for supervision of the most difficult, 24km-long third section (to the Deve Bair border crossing with Bulgaria), is already published. We expect the tender for construction of the section to come out in a week or two. In addition, we are jointly building the cross-border tunnel that will finally connect Skopje and Sofia after many decades," says Nikoloski.

He adds that the Skopje-Kichevo railway section will also be rehabilitated.

"We are also working on a Skopje ring road so that cargo trains do not enter and pollute the city. In parallel, we are working on the City Train project but also the Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar-Kichevo section together with the EU. The second stage of this project will depend on Albania and whether they invest as we intend to, considering that the interconnection would cost about EUR 2 billion. This is a mega project, which alongside the Corridor X fast rail, would potentially cost EUR 5 billion," says Nikoloski.

Moreover, the construction of the Prilep-Bitola motorway is going well and is set to open in 2029.

Photo: Kurir