Skopje, 23 April 2026 (MIA) — The construction of the Corridor VIII highway and railway sections will cost nearly EUR 5 billion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski said Thursday, adding that the projects were progressing well. 

Speaking before a coordination meeting on Corridor VIII activities held with EU Delegation representatives, Nikoloski expressed hope that neighboring Albania and Bulgaria would approach their parts of the construction with similar responsibility.

The meeting focused on the development of Corridor VIII, which Nikoloski said had been declared by NATO as the second most important security corridor. 

Participants included project partners and representatives from the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, which serve as creditors, along with officials from the government and state transport enterprises.

Nikoloski said the state was demonstrating the capacity to manage large infrastructure projects. He noted that projects described as "stuck and forgotten" 18 months ago were now seeing serious implementation.

Regarding the railway connection with Sofia, Nikoloski said a tender has been announced to select supervision for the third phase from Kriva Palanka to Deve Bair. He added that a tender for a construction contractor should be announced in around 10 days.

Nikoloski said he hopes for a high volume of applications from European and international firms. He expects construction activities for the third phase — the section from Kriva Palanka to the joint tunnel with Bulgaria — to begin this summer.

The estimated value for the third phase remains unchanged. Regarding the tunnel construction, Nikoloski expressed hope that Bulgaria would form a stable government so that work can resume where it left off with Bulgaria's former transport minister Grozdan Karadjov. 

Nikoloski said the deadline for the Macedonian side of the works was 2031-32.

"Bulgaria has promised to match this pace. They need to reconstruct or build a new railroad track along the entire stretch from Sofia to the border with Macedonia," he said.

Nikoloski also said obstacles facing the second phase of the railway from Beljakovce to Kriva Palanka were being resolved. He said all 16 tunnels on that section have been broken through and he said works would finish in 2028. The first phase from Kumanovo to Beljakovce has been in operation since early last year.

Discussions with EU representatives also covered the western railway wing of Corridor 8. This includes the section from Skopje to the border with Albania, passing through Tetovo, Gostivar and Kichevo. The existing railway on part of this route, according to Nikoloski, will need to be upgraded significantly.

The transport minister described the project as an enormous investment. 

"The entire Corridor VIII will cost somewhere around EUR 5 billion in highways and railways and I hope that our neighbors Albania and Bulgaria will work with the same responsibility," he said.

Nikoloski said work on the highway sections of Corridor VIII is proceeding well. He said the reconstruction of the Deve Bair border crossing was nearly finished, with expansion plans already under consideration. Additionally, the bypass near Kriva Palanka and the expressway from Stracin to Kriva Palanka have been launched.

Construction is currently under way on the Tetovo–Gostivar and Gostivar–Kichevo highways in coordination with the Bechtel and Enka consortium. 

Work also continues on the Ohrid–Kichevo highway, and the selection of a contractor for the Kichevo–Bukojchani section is in its final stages. Nikoloski added that the government would work with the EU under its Growth Plan for the Western Balkans to build an expressway between Kumanovo and Stracin to ensure a continuous high-speed road solution from the Albanian border to the Bulgarian border.

Speaking about the Trebenishte–Kjafasan highway section, Nikoloski said the government was following UNESCO suggestions regarding protected areas. He said the project was proceeding, but the specific route to the Kjafasan border crossing was still under discussion with EU and UNESCO representatives.

The EU Delegation's Deputy Head of Mission Ben Nupnau highlighted the strategic importance of Corridor VIII for citizens and businesses across the region. He expressed hope that the EUR 1.2 billion in EU funding provided for the corridor would be put to use promptly.

Nupnau also noted the security aspect of the corridor during the current geopolitical crisis, adding that the link between the two seas would improve military mobility for NATO member states. He described the meeting as a confirmation of the government’s commitment to the investment.

The countries involved in Corridor VIII previously reaffirmed their commitment to the project through a declaration signed in Tirana on February 18. mr/

Фото: МИА