EC grants EUR 375 million for Peljesac Bridge project

The European Commission on Wednesday granted Croatia EUR 357 million to build a bridge to connect its southernmost peninsula of Peljesac with the mainland.

A decision on the acceptance of the EU's co-financing of the project was signed by European Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Cretu and Croatia's Regional Development and EU Funds Minister Gabrijela Zalac.

The EU will provide funds in the amount of 85% of the project value.

Cretu said the project was an example of the EU's commitment to removing obstacles, connecting regions and bringing people closer.

She said that she was aware of how long Croatians had waited for the bridge and that she was glad the EU would participate in its construction.

The Peljesac Bridge project, estimated at 526 million euros including VAT, is expected to ensure an unobstructed passage of goods and people, notably during the peak tourist season.

The four-lane bridge will be 55 metres high and 2.4 kilometres long.

The EU will also co-finance infrastructure including access roads, tunnels, bridges and overpasses as well as an 8-kilometre ring-road at Ston.

The construction work is expected to be completed in 2022.

The EC says that the bridge would halve the duration of travel from Dubrovnik to Split and that it would significantly benefit tourism and trade as well as strengthen the cohesion of the southern Dalmatia and the rest of the country.

The bridge is to be built off Neum, a town on Bosnia's coastline stretch. Bosnia and Herzegovina insists on unobstructed access to the high seas and Croatia's Transport Minister Oleg Butkovic has said that an agreement on the matter was reached with the neighbouring country.

Text: Hina

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