Construction of new "Žeželjev most" bridge to start in spring 2010 - investment worth over 60m EUR

- Construction of new railway-road bridge across the Danube near Novi Sad will start the next building season - Dejan Kovačević, the adviser for bridges in the Ministry of Infrastructure, told "Dnevnik".

In about three years, which is the estimated deadline for completion of the bridge, Novi Sad is going to get a new bridge in the place of former city symbol - the bridge called "Žeželjeva lastavica", which was torn down during the NATO bombing ten years ago. The new bridge will have the same silhouette, and it will be similar to "Žeželjeva lastavica", but it will be built of steel instead of concrete.

Elaboration of the preliminary project for construction of the new bridge has been entrusted to Italian company "Italfer". The initial project was rejected by the national audit commission, which suggested that it should be supplemented because it was concluded in the meantime that, in addition to two traffic lanes, the bridge should also have two instead of one rail track. Since the bridge will be situated on traffic Corridor 10, a part of which is two-track railway Subotica–Novi Sad–Belgrade, the project task has been broadened and the deadline for completion of plans for the bridge has been extended.

Dejan Kovačević says that the preliminary project is expected to be done prior to October 20th at the latest. It will then be taken in consideration by the national audit commission, and the main project will be elaborated in accordance with their comments. However, since the preliminary project is voluminous, it will be used as the basis for announcement of the tender for selection of contractor. Open competition can be expected after the New Year, so that the works can start in spring 2010.

Construction of the bridge will be financed by European Union with 30m EUR, the Province will provide 20m EUR, while the city will set aside 10m EUR. Through its CARDS programme, which was intended for refurbishment of the facilities that were torn down during the war, European Agency for Reconstruction set aside 2m EUR for elaboration of the main project for new "Žeželjev most", and that job was entrusted to Italian company "Italfer" in May 2007. The initial deadline for completion of the project was 22 months, and it expired in March 2009.

Vlada Republike Srbije

Grad Novi Sad

Vlada AP Vojvodina

Ministry of Infrastructure

Žeželjev most

Danube

Žeželjeva lastavica

Italfer

Corridor 10

Dejan Kovačević

CARDS programme

Government of Serbia

City of Novi Sad

Executive Council of Vojvodina