DJILAS: Zemun-Borca Bridge to be completed until October 2014

(Dragan Djilas)

The Zemun-Borca Bridge will be completed until October 2014, along with all access roads, Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas said Friday (2 December 2011) when Chinese Ambassador Zhang Wanxue and he visited the building site of the bridge.

On that occasion, Djilas said that the completion of that bridge in three years would allow for a ban on truck traffic through Belgrade, better flow of other traffic, and the development of Borca's side of the Danube.

- In three years, counting from today, new projects and investments will be enabled here - said the mayor, adding that there was no reason for not finishing the works on time.

The mayor stressed that the expropriation of land on the side of Borca was completed, whereas issues with seven out of 36 families on the opposite side of the Danube, in the settlement of Prigrevica, were being resolved at the moment.

The Chinese ambassador said he was happy to start the mandate in Belgrade with the construction of that bridge, pointing out that the Chinese company would finish that bridge on time.

Works on the construction of the Zemun-Borca Bridge kicked off this summer, and the contractor has so far built a camp for workers, a temporary road to the embankment, and an auxiliary steel bridge.

The value of the concluded agreement is EUR 170 million, 85% of which will be provided by China's Exim Bank, whereas the Republic of Serbia and the City of Belgrade will give the remaining 15%.