TECHNICAL INSPECTION COMPLETED FOR FIRST SECTION OF GRADIŠKA EXPRESSWAY, OPENING EXPECTED SOON

Technical inspection completed for the first section of the expressway near Gradiška, set to link the Banja Luka–Gradiška motorway with the Zagreb–Belgrade motorway, marking the final step before its opening.

PHOTO: Nezavisne novine

According to Hrvatske ceste, the investor of the project, the opening of the section depends on the technical inspection of the border crossing, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Croatian Ministry of Finance.

“Following the above, at this moment we do not have an exact date for opening the road to traffic, but it will take place after the necessary permits are issued,” the company told Nezavisne novine.

When is the opening planned?

Unofficially, members of the BiH commission in charge of signing the new border agreement with Croatia told Nezavisne that the opening is tentatively planned for December 10, on a temporary basis, until a new permanent agreement is signed.

Regarding the border crossing, the Croatian Ministry of Finance explained that all construction and equipment works have been completed, and the request for its technical inspection has been submitted. The inspection is expected to be carried out on December 2, 2025.

“Until a new agreement between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on border crossings is adopted, the Gornji Varoš (Croatia) – Gradiška Novi most (BiH) crossing will be regulated through a procedure for issuing a decision on opening a temporary border crossing, which requires alignment between the competent authorities of both countries,” the Ministry stressed.

The EU supported the construction of the Sava bridge with a grant of 6.3 million KM and also contributed grant funding for the Mahovljani interchange and the Banja Luka–Gradiška motorway.

The bridge itself was built jointly by Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina (specifically Republika Srpska), on a 50–50 cost-sharing basis. The expressway is fully financed by Croatia and is part of a corridor the country is developing toward Hungary.

The first 4.5 kilometers of the expressway, stretching from the Sava bridge near Gradiška to Novi Varoš, have been completed, and this is where drivers will connect to the existing road toward Okučani and further to the Zagreb–Belgrade motorway.

A second section is still under construction. Once finished, drivers will be able to connect directly to the motorway from the expressway, without using the current slower road.

Both sections are being built by the Banja Luka–based company Integral inženjering.

Banja Luka to Zagreb in an hour and a half

If everything proceeds as planned, within a month it will be possible to travel from Banja Luka to Zagreb in roughly 90 minutes, significantly improving regional connectivity. Additionally, some drivers from Sarajevo are expected to use the “9th January” motorway near Doboj as an alternative route toward the EU.

The opening of the crossing is also good news for residents of central Bosnia, as towns such as Jajce, Vitez, Bugojno, and Travnik typically travel toward the EU via Banja Luka.

How much did the bridge cost?

The Sava bridge connecting BiH and Croatia cost €19 million, shared equally between the two countries. Construction began in October 2019 and was completed in June 2022.

The first four kilometers of the expressway, expected to open soon, cost approximately €40 million, with work beginning in February 2022.

The final section, less than four kilometers long, has a projected cost of €14 million, and completion is expected in June next year.