Since the agreement with the Italian company Tirena Scavi was terminated, a new contractor is sought to finish the building of the express road Rankovce-Kriva Palanka at Corridor 8. The Public Enterprise for State Roads of North Macedonia has issued an international call for tender that will finish the first subsection from Dlabochica to Chatal, in the length of 15.5 km.
The building of the new road toward Bulgaria in the length of 25 km is divided into two subsections. The construction works began on the 22nd of June 2018 and at the time, the Government promised that the express road, worth 58 million EUR will be finished by June 2021. Still, in a period of three years, the Italian contractor has managed to finish only 30% of its share of the road in the length of 15.5 km and the new contractor will be required to finish this section in a period of 16 months.
In the meantime, the Macedonian consortium consisting of Granit and Beton companies is continuing with the second subsection of the express road Rankovce-Kriva Palanka, between Kriva Palanka and Dlabochica. The construction activities on this section of the new road, in the length of almost 9 km, at the moment are ongoing without any delays and in accordance with the planned tempo.
The future express road will have one lane for driving and one additional lane for stopping on each side which will significantly shorten the time for traveling between Kumanovo and Kriva Palanka. This project is financed with a loan from the World Bank.
