Zagreb, Croatia – After nearly two decades of development, Croatia is poised to complete its section of the vital European transport artery, Corridor Vc, by June. This milestone will see the full operationalization of the 88.6-kilometer A5 Beli Manastir – Osijek – Svilaj motorway, a crucial link in the EU’s comprehensive TEN-T network.
Corridor Vc, a major international route, connects Budapest, Hungary, to the Port of Ploče in Croatia via Osijek and Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The completion of the final five-kilometer stretch between Beli Manastir and the Hungarian border will significantly enhance the movement of goods and people between Southeast Europe and the Adriatic Sea.
Decades of Development Culminate
The Croatian section of Corridor Vc, known as the Slavonika motorway, has been constructed in phases. The first segment, Đakovo – Sredanci, opened in 2007, followed by Osijek – Đakovo in 2009. The section from Sredanci to the Bosnia and Herzegovina border, excluding the Sava River bridge, was finished in 2015. In late 2022, the 24-kilometer stretch from Beli Manastir to Osijek was completed.
The final five-kilometer segment, contracted to Osijek Koteks d.d. in August 2023 for €46 million and funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, includes several key structures, most notably the 318-meter-long Karašica viaduct. Construction is expected to conclude in June, followed by technical inspections before the official opening.
Enhanced Connectivity and Economic Impact
With Hungary having completed its section last year, the completion of Croatia’s segment will drastically reduce travel times. Driving from Osijek to Budapest will soon take less than two hours, making the Hungarian capital more accessible than even Zagreb.
A notable feature of the corridor is the 2,507-meter Drava Bridge near Petrijevci, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Croatia, completed in 2016. Initially leading to nowhere, it now seamlessly integrates into the motorway towards Baranja.
However, the full benefits of Corridor Vc will only be realized once Bosnia and Herzegovina completes its remaining 187 kilometers. Of the total 325 kilometers running through Bosnia, 138 kilometers are currently operational. The most challenging project is the 10.45-kilometer Prenj Tunnel, one of Europe’s longest road tunnels, with Bosnia aiming for completion by 2030.
Transforming Slavonia and Eastern Croatia
Once fully operational, Corridor Vc will significantly boost connectivity between northern, central, and southern Europe. For Slavonia and eastern Croatia, this means improved north-south connections, increased economic potential, and a substantial tourism boost. The corridor is expected to drive regional development and facilitate greater integration with the broader European economy.
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