The Circuit Around Belgrade Is Going to be Finished Until 2009

As the priority of the National Investment Plan for the city of Belgrade, the part of the circuit from Ostruznica to Orlovaca, is defined. The consortium made of domestic construction companies "Mostogradnja" and "Planum", has been already engaged on this project. According the program of execution of the works, in the next period of one year and a half, it is supposed to be invested in this project 150 mil euros, of this total value, the amount of 120 mil euros is obtained by the loans given by EU Banks, and the other part of the total value will be provided from the incomes of privatization sector.

The complete circuit that is long 47 km, is in the construction for a decade and a half, and the whole way could be in operation in 2009, as announced Mr Miodrag Jocic, the State Secretary for Traffic in the Ministry for the Capital Investment, with the objection that the amount of 388 mil euros should be provided.

Mr Jocic said that for the final works of the circuit and its operation as the highway, the investment of 276 mil euros is needed and that is provided by loans from EBRD and EIB. Now, the Ministry has serious talks for the loan of the value of 112 mil euros for execution of the works in the length of 10 km from Batajnica to Dobanovci. The rest of the value in the amount of 112 mil euros will be provided by domestic resources, and the Minister for Finance, Mr Mladjan Dinkic, has promised the amount of 30 mil euros.

According to the words of the State Secretary for Traffic, until now the part of the circuit in the length of 17,5 km has been finished connecting Dobanovci-Surcin (sector 1), Surcin- Ostruznica (Sector 2 and 3) and the bridge accross Sava near Ostruznica has been reconstructed.

Momentarily the construction company "Partizanski put" is building the part of the circuit from Ibar highway to Bubanj Potok, and the companies "Mostogradnja" and "Planum" have been engaged for quite a time at the section Ostruznica-Orlovaca, according to the words of the Manager of "Mostogradnja' Mr Branko Knezevic.

As Mr Jocic said in the near future they will execute the construction works at the section Batajnica-Dobanovci (Sector 0) with very demanded cross road in Batajnica, then they have to build the connection between Orlovaca and Kumodraz (Sector 5) that means the construction of the tunnel in Strazevica, that has been started already, and finally the part of the cicuit Kumodraz- Bubanj Potok with the tunnel close to Milos Potok.

Finally, we are hoping to have the future ring circuit that will be consisted of circuit highway from Batajnica, through Dobanovci to Surcin, Ostruznica, Zeleznik and Beli Potok, with the corridor across Vinca and the new bridge accross Danube for the connection with the international highway E-70. This circuit will connect all the main international highways that are crossing Belgrade.

What are the benefits for the city - first of all the bridge Gazela that suffers the daily traffic of 160.000 vehicles, from which number the trucks are 30.000-40.000 , will be downloaded of transit traffic. And when the section of the circuit from Bubanj Potok to Vinca and the bridge for railroad traffic would be in the operation, all the transport of dangerous materials will be dislocated from the city center traffic.