Montenegro completes 35 km road reconstruction on Lepenac - Berane route

Spajić: The largest road infrastructure reconstruction to date – Berane is becoming the transport hub of Montenegro’s north-east

The reconstruction of the main road from Slijepač Most to the entrance to Berane, carried out through the Lepenac – Ribarevina – Poda – Berane project, has ensured a safer, faster and more comfortable connection between Bijelo Polje and Berane, and provided a modern access route to the future Bar – Boljare motorway.

This was stated by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, who, together with Deputy Prime Minister for Infrastructure Milun Zogović, Minister of Transport Maja Vukićević, and Director of the Transport Administration Radomir Vuksanović, marked the completion of works on this section.

The total length of the reconstructed section from Slijepač Most to the Berane entrance is 35 kilometres. The contracted value of works is €35.7 million (excluding VAT), and the project was financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB).

We said that Berane and the Vasojevići region would become a transport hub – and that is exactly what is happening. The reconstruction of this important road ensures a safer, faster and more comfortable connection between Bijelo Polje and Berane. After more than half a century, 35 kilometres of main road have been renewed as part of the Lepenac – Ribarevina – Poda – Berane project, Prime Minister Spajić said.

This is the largest road infrastructure reconstruction in Montenegro to date, and at the same time, this modernised road will serve as an access route to the Bar – Boljare motorway. This project was realised with the support of the European Investment Bank, and many more projects lie ahead, he added.

Deputy Prime Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Milun Zogović stressed that, in terms of infrastructure development in the north, recent achievements include the reconstruction of the Mateševo – Andrijevica road over the Trešnjevik pass, the commissioning of the cable car at the Štedim ski centre in Rožaje, and the opening of the Vrulja – Matijevići road section towards Pljevlja. Today’s event marks yet another major reconstruction of a regional road used by almost all northern municipalities.

This is one of the major infrastructure projects and one of the most significant investments for the development of the north. Everything this Government promised the citizens of northern Montenegro – a new approach to the region and increased investment – is being fulfilled, creating conditions for further types of investment, Zogović stated.

He added that, in addition to regional and main roads and the second section of the motorway – for which a contractor is expected to be selected soon – the 44th Government has allocated substantial funding for the development of local road infrastructure implemented through municipalities.

Transport Minister Maja Vukićević said that further major investments are planned for the northern region and the municipality of Berane.

The Berane–Rožaje road, with a total length of 30 kilometres, will be built, along with the Berane–Andrijevica road, complementing the already reconstructed road over Trešnjevik. There are numerous investments planned for this region, demonstrating our commitment to developing infrastructure, particularly in northern Montenegro, Vukićević stated.

Director of the Transport Administration Radomir Vuksanović explained that the reconstruction of the Lepenac – Ribarevina, Ribarevina – Poda, and Poda – Berane sections began on 1 August 2023.

The agreed completion date, defined by the annex, was 28 December 2025, meaning that we finished the work ahead of schedule. The contractor is the Strabag–Bemax consortium, Vuksanović said.

The works included the replacement of the entire road structure, construction of retaining walls, rehabilitation and reconstruction of slopes, bridges, and tunnels, remediation of several landslides, and improvement of surface and underground drainage.

During the works, and at the request of the local population, sidewalks and street lighting were additionally built along almost 10 kilometres of the route, valued at around €3 million.

This significantly increased safety in populated areas, and parts of the water supply network were reconstructed or newly built.

The reconstruction also includes new horizontal and vertical road signage, as well as new passive traffic safety systems.

With the completion of this section, residents of this part of Montenegro will benefit from a modern road that will improve service levels and traffic safety across this segment of Montenegro’s road network.