The director of the Autoputevi Republike Srpske public company, Dušan Topić, told SRNA on Tuesday that a contract had been signed today with companies which would build the bridge on the Sava near Gradiška that would connect BiH and Croatia, and that the construction could start in a month.
Topić has said that the contract was signed by representatives of the BiH Ministry of Transport and Communications in a caretaking capacity and the Hrvatske Ceste Company on behalf of the investor, and representatives of Integral Inženjering from Laktaši on behalf of the contractor.
In addition to this company, Croatian companies “Đuro Đaković Montaža” and “Zagreb-Montaža” will be in a consortium that will build the bridge.
“This is a very important day since as of today there is no way back, but only a way forward. By signing the contract all parties assumed a great obligation and responsibility,” Topić said.
According to him, a tender for the selection of a monitoring body should be completed in a month.
“During this time, the contractor should mobilize its capacities so that conditions could be created to start works in a month. It is our aim to make use of as much time as possible before winter and to plan most of the works for the next year. The deadline for the completion of works is 30 months, and this is enough time to bring them to an end,” Topić said.
He has said that it is important that the contractor can get engaged in the procurement of steel materials as of today.
“The bridge will be of steel construction, which is rare in our region so that it will take time to provide quality materials, and then to start workshop production of elements which will be assembled on the construction site,” Topić said.
Works are worth EUR 19.54 million without VAT, and the construction is being financed equally by BiH and Croatia.
The bridge will be 426 meters long and 22.6 m wide and will have two traffic lanes in each direction.
Separated border crossings are planned to be built after the bridge is completed which will allow for a quicker flow of people and goods and a normal life in Gradiška.
Source: srna
