The restoration of the Đurđevića Tara bridge and its adjacent roads is set to commence in May, as the land expropriation process is currently in progress. This will be funded by the state from the capital budget of the Transport Administration.

This information was officially confirmed to “Vijesti” by the Ministry of Transport.

The reconstruction will be carried out by the Chinese firm “Shandong Luqiao Group,” with an estimated completion period of eight months, excluding any work during winter. Additionally, shops located on the right side of the road leading toward Mojkovac will be dismantled to pave the way for ten new establishments. On the left side of the road towards Pljevlja, existing structures may be repurposed as a bridge museum following the completion of construction.

This renovation, which marks one of Montenegro’s key tourist attractions, is being funded by a donation from the People’s Republic of China.

Recently, the Government approved information regarding the status of this project, stating the Transport Administration has applied for a construction permit to initiate work within the scheduled timeframe. Until then, the contractor is permitted to engage in other necessary activities and preparatory tasks with governmental consent. The supervision of the construction process will be handled by “Građevinski nadzor i laboratoriji ispavili,” based in Podgorica.

An agreement between the governments of Montenegro and China was established in 2018 for the renovation of the Đurđevića Tara bridge. The legal foundation for the project initiation is based on the contract signed in December 2020, detailing a donation of €7.05 million specifically for the reconstruction, which constitutes an intergovernmental agreement.

The Ministry of Transport has informed “Vijesti” that both the Transport Administration and the Real Estate Administration are managing the expropriation. Access roads measuring 250 meters each will also undergo reconstruction, totaling 500 meters. The ministry stated, “The expropriation process is ongoing. According to the donation agreement, costs are the responsibility of the Montenegrin government, funded through the capital budget of the Transport Administration. We anticipate beginning the work in May this year. All expenses related to the inspection and testing of the bridge, as well as the technical documentation preparation and reconstruction efforts, will be covered by the Chinese side, which has allocated 51.8 million Chinese yuan as part of the donation. So far, the Montenegrin side has covered the expenses for revising the technical documentation, with costs of €14,400 for the main project and €6,025 for the conceptual design revision. Montenegrin expenses will also include land expropriation, supervision costs, and potential unforeseen expenses during construction. The timeframe for completing the reconstruction of the bridge and access roads is set for eight months from the start date, excluding the winter period,” the government department stated.

Prohibition on Trucks and Buses

The Government’s report indicates that the Transport Administration will assemble a working group to oversee the coordination and implementation of all reconstruction elements. A budget of €163,800 has been designated for this group’s operations, approved by the Ministry of Finance.

In late 2022, the Environmental Protection Agency decided that the Traffic Administration would not require an environmental impact assessment for the bridge reconstruction. A similar ruling was made earlier in March, following the Administration’s request due to potential effects on the village of Budičević.

The document notes that activities affecting traffic on the bridge, such as bearing replacement, expansion, and road surface reconstruction, will take place at night. It also highlights the narrowness of the road, necessitating restrictions on vehicle weights, banning trucks and large buses while allowing passenger vehicles to pass freely.

“As traffic will need to be completely halted during the bearing replacement and expansion joint work, it is advisable to conduct these tasks overnight. Following these changes, warning signs, protective barriers, and lighting should be installed on both sides of the bridge to prevent vehicles from crossing. A prominent traffic sign must be positioned at the intersection of Mojkovac, Šavnik, and Pljevlja, indicating vehicle restrictions and closure times. While reconstruction work on a pavement slab and the installation of new fences may take longer, construction can continue unimpeded by shifting operations to one side of the bridge while facilitating traffic on the other, regulated by traffic lights,” the document specifies.

Measuring 366 meters in length and seven meters in width, the Tara bridge is constructed from reinforced concrete.

An international competition organized by the Ministry of Construction of the former Kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1937 resulted in the selection of a design by Professor Mijat Trojanović.

The bridge was constructed between 1938 and 1940, under the direction of the Belgrade-based company “Antunović.”

Following Professor Trojanović’s suggestion, a renowned Swiss expert was assigned the scaffolding project.

Its height spans approximately 150 meters over the canyon.

The Tara Bridge is a remarkable example of regional architectural heritage, showcasing unique creativity of its era while holding significant architectural, environmental, and cultural values.

Speed Limit of 20 Kilometers per Hour

The agency indicated that the bridge is situated within the UNESCO-protected “Durmitor” National Park, emphasizing that environmental protection is a priority.

“Project-related facilities on the left bank of the Tara River near the bridge include a hotel, shops, old structures, a storage area for sand and stones along the northern bank of the “M10” road, and a cable car. As the hotel is privately owned, its area will not be included in the project. Shops on the right side of the “R10” road will be removed to create space for ten new shops. The old structures on the left side of the “M6” road are state-owned and may serve as auxiliary facilities during construction. Upon completion of the project, these old buildings could be transformed into a bridge museum,” the document states.

It is mentioned that renovations will permit a speed limit of 20 kilometers per hour, and that designated parking spaces for cars and buses will be developed on both the south and north sides of the bridge.

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