Svilaj Bridge connects us. We are creating opportunities for more investment and economic cooperation

Svilaj Bridge across the River Sava connecting Svilaj in Croatia with Donji Svilaj in Bosnia and Herzegovina opened to traffic on Thursday, and this 660-metre-long structure is located along the strategically important international Vc corridor.

It is on the pan-European Vc corridor route between Budapest via Osijek and Sarajevo to the Croatian seaport in Ploče.

The bridge was formally opened at a ceremony at which European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Bosnia and Herzegovina's Prime Minister Zoran Tegeltija together cut the red ribbon.

The six-lane bridge is 29 metre wide.

The construction of the bridge started in 2016, and was completed in 2020.

This was a joint €23.4 million investment of Croatia's HAC motorway operator and the relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the project was financed by Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina at a ratio of 50:50 with 58% of Croatia's share part being covered by EU funds from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Croatia ensured a grant amounting to almost €7 million from the Connecting Europe Facility for its half (€11.7 million).

The bridge was built in compliance with the bilateral treaty between the Croatian and Bosnian governments.

Text: Hina

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