Ljig-Preljina highway on Corridor 11 opens

The Ljig-Preljina section of Corridor 11 in the length of 40.35 kilometers opened for traffic today, and drivers will be able to use the route without paying the toll until the end of the year.

The cost of the works amounted to EUR 308 million, of which EUR 300 million was provided by Azerbaijan, whereas Serbia participated with EUR 8 million.

The trip from Ljig to Preljina now takes about half an hour instead of a full hour.

The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlovic and the Azerbaijani Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev.

Several thousand people gathered near the Takovo interchange. Vucic reached the spot by a freight track which had passed through the Sarani tunnels, driven by the director of Corridors of Serbia, Dmitar Djurovic (the tunnel had been repaired, and the media had previously informed that they couldn't be passed through by freight trucks due to insufficient height).

A table saying “Where there's friendship, no country is too far” was unveiled next to the Takovo interchange as a token of gratitude to the Government of Azerbaijan for helping build the Ljig-Preljina section.

Vucic said that the Government of Serbia focused on construction of road infrastructure, not just connecting Serbia and developing all regions equally, but also showing there was a vision for the development of the country.

– The Ljig-Preljina section is a result of our work and I am happy that we are getting closer to continuing down the road we're on. Roads are symbols of freedom, choice and opportunities – Vucic emphasized.

He added that the highway through Serbia would reach the Bulgarian border before the end of the year.

The main contractor on the section was the Azerbaijani company Azvirt, whereas 101 Serbian companies were employed as subcontractors.

Sixty six bridges were raised, the longest of which has 600 meters, and the section includes three interchanges as well – Dici, a temporary one connecting the Ibar route with the highway, the Takovo interchange, connecting Gornji Milanovac and the highway, and the Preljina interchange, connecting the Ibar route with the new section and redirecting vehicles towards Cacak or Belgrade.

Five tunnels have also been dug through on the Ljig-Preljina section, the longest of which is Sarani, at 885 meters, followed by Brdjani (450 meters) and Savinac (270 meters). Abutments in the total length of 7.5 kilometers were built, as well as 20 kilometers of river flow regulations.

Ministarstvo građevinarstva, saobraćaja i infrastrukture Republike Srbije

Azvirt Beograd

Ljig Preljina highway

Corridor 11

Aleksandar Vucic

Zorana Mihajlovic

Shahin Mustafayev

Sarani tunnels

Corridors of Serbia

Dmitar Djurovic

Takovo interchange

Government of Azerbaijan

Azvirt

Dici interchange

Preljina interchange

Brdjani tunnel

Savinac tunnel