In 2021 we had six percent more realization and increase of capital investments compared to 2020, but also the realization of many projects, some of which were suspended, some were started in previous years, and some were under implementation, and some we started because they were provided for in the Annual Program. The total amount of realized investments in 2021 is 7.334.000.000 billion denars, which is more than 400 million denars from the previous year, he said in an interview with MIA Ejup Rustemi, director of Public Enterprise for State Roads (PESR).

One such process that we unlocked and overcame the previously accumulated problems, he points out, was the construction of the expressway Gradsko-Prilep, which is one of the most important roads in the country, where daily pass over 6 thousand vehicles of all categories and where that the problems with its construction are already behind us after the takeover of one part of Strabag and the other from Sinohydro and intensive work began.

- The first part of the Skopje-Blace highway has started to be built intensively, and we have started activities in the direction of better infrastructural connection of the Southwest planning region of the Republic of Northern Macedonia with the Republic of Albania. Thus, we announced a public procurement tender for selection of the best bid for construction of regional road R2246 section, Izvor (junction with A2) - Garski Most, 19 km long and worth 23,74 million euros (including VAT), funds provided from the Budget of the Public Enterprise for State Roads, says Rustemi.

He stated that a Contractor has already been selected and put into operation on 01.11.2021, with a construction period of 24 months. The road is designed and will be built on a regional level and this section will provide better conditions for traffic, which means safe, faster and uninterrupted traffic in the Southwest planning region, which will connect and shorten the travel time between the cities of Kicevo and Debar.

-Also, we are undertaking preparatory actions for new capital investments for this year, such as the preparation of tender documentation for the construction of the highway Kicevo-Bukojcani in the length of 10 km, the construction of the second phase of the highway Skopje-Blace in the length of 10 km, which are expected to start in the first half of this year, and especially the projects related to the Agreement with Bechtel and Enka with which we expect to build highways in the length of over 120 km. All this promises that this year we will have a good realization of capital investments, says Rustemi in an interview with MIA.

The highway section Kicevo-Ohrid, he points out, has been a "saga" for several years that I inherited and I sincerely hope this time it will end within the newly planned deadline - 31.12.2023. - We overcame most of the problems that were of administrative nature in 2021, and this year we expect increased work intensity. It is now the winter season when things stop due to the weather conditions, but with the arrival of spring, an intensified pace of work will begin in order to meet these new deadlines, he announced.