Montenegro’s priority transport projects worth over €5 billion

A list of priority transportation projects in Montenegro has been compiled, featuring 13 major investments totaling over €5 billion. These projects include the construction of highways, railways and the modernization of airports in Tivat and Podgorica.

The reconstruction and modernization of the Bar-Vrnica railway line, which includes track rehabilitation, bridge repairs, tunnel work, and flood control, is estimated to cost €459.25 million.

Also on the list is the stretch of highway from Mateševo to Andrijevica, with an estimated value of €530 million.

The most expensive project is the coastal section of the Adriatic-Ionian highway, a rapid transit route along Montenegro’s coastline, valued at €1.76 billion. The section from the Croatian border at Bijela, including a bypass around Herceg Novi (8 km) and the Bijela-Herceg Novi section (9 km), is estimated at €193.22 million. The proposed bridge across the Bay of Kotor is valued at €68 million, while the Tivat bypass will cost €56.43 million. The Budva bypass will require €322 million, and the Bar bypass is valued at €188 million. The Tivat-Sozina road will cost €198.55 million, while the stretch from Bar to the Albanian border is estimated at €150.48 million.

The highway section from Smokovac to Tološi-Farmaci, including the Podgorica bypass, is estimated at €317.5 million, while the section from Đurmani to Farmaci will cost €430.45 million. The highway stretch from Andrijevica to Boljare is valued at approximately €805 million.

For the Port of Bar, more than €50 million is planned, with €15 million earmarked for deepening the seabed and around €36 million for infrastructure improvements.

Airport development projects are also included, with nearly €58 million planned for Podgorica and €72.1 million for Tivat. Both airports will be modernized according to the guidelines of the Master Plan from 2011, which outlines the development goals for the period from 2011 to 2030. These upgrades aim to improve capacity and service quality based on predicted traffic. Due to significant inflation in recent years, the actual costs may exceed the stated figures. The plan also includes projects related to runways, passenger terminals, platform expansions, and parking facilities. A new master plan is expected to be created to reflect the real investment costs at both airports.

The reconstruction and modernization of the Podgorica-Tuzi railway line, which extends to the Albanian border and Tirana, is projected to cost €70 million. Additionally, the construction of the Nikšić-Bosnian border-Trebinje-Čapljina railway line is estimated at nearly €180 million.

Around €3 million will be invested in the maritime information system for managing and responding to marine pollution incidents, which is part of the second phase of the project.

Another key project on the list is the Podgorica-Sarajevo connection, which includes a border crossing with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The estimated cost is €229.35 million, including €2.75 million for the reconstruction of the Nikšić-Danilovgrad section. The reconstruction of the Jasenovo Polje-Zaborje section will cost €19.65 million, while the Zaborje-Seljani section will cost €10.55 million. The most expensive part will be the reconstruction of the Šćepan Polje-Blužina section, near the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, valued at €156 million.

This updated list of projects was approved during the latest government session. The Ministry of Transport, in order to meet the final criteria of Negotiating Chapter 21 on Trans-European Networks and fulfill obligations under Measure 2, has updated the list. This list was initially adopted in December 2021.