The visitors we encouraged to explore the destination we branded as “wild beauty” certainly did not anticipate choking on dust and navigating around construction equipment.

This sentiment was echoed by the director of MAC SUN Montenegro travel agency, Dragan Ivancevic, who highlighted the frustration of guests arriving in Budva from several European nations only to encounter heavy machinery, dust, and uneven roads on the way from Tivat airport to their hotels.

“Tourists are baffled that their journey from Tivat airport to a Budva hotel takes longer than their flight from any European city to Tivat,” Ivančević remarked to “Vijesti”.

The ongoing upgrade of the existing Adriatic Highway stretching from Jaz to Tivat Airport into a boulevard is currently in progress over a length of 16 kilometers. There is immense pressure from the public, tourism sector, and local citizens due to widespread dissatisfaction with traffic jams, lengthy waits, and extended travel times.

The peak tourist season is fast approaching, and many are hesitant to speculate on the traffic conditions for one of the busiest routes in the country from early July to mid-August, when tourist numbers soar. Historically, enormous crowds and long delays have emerged even in seasons without construction, indicating that travelers could spend hours commuting from Kotor or Tivat to Budva during peak times.

Minister: Patience, it can’t happen overnight

Transport Minister Maja Vukićević acknowledged the public’s frustrations but emphasized the necessity for patience, citing the extensive nature of the project and the many hurdles faced after she assumed her role.

“The project has faced difficulties since its inception, including a six-month delay due to the absence of a valid construction permit. The Montenegrin public should know that when this project was contracted, a two-year deadline for completion was also agreed upon. Work commenced in January 2024 with a scheduled finish in January 2026. We are striving to improve the pace of progress. The Ministry of Transport has intervened multiple times with the Traffic Administration and the contractors. Given the challenges of working in this area, we hope that a significant portion of the boulevard will be completed on time. This is the assurance we received from the Traffic Administration. The Ministry will, of course, keep track of the progress,” Vukićević informed “Vijesti”.

She reminded everyone that infrastructure projects cannot be resolved overnight:

“I recognize there are bottlenecks. Even without construction, there were crowds; the current situation is just more challenging. It’s crucial for everyone to remain patient. Infrastructure development is a process that requires time; it cannot be wrapped up in a month or even six months. We genuinely hope to complete the project on schedule, and the Ministry will insist on adhering to the timeline,” she stated.

Ivančević: We are losing the battle with the environment

Ivančević cautioned that we may gradually be losing ground against environmental concerns in tourism due to “the unpreparedness of the infrastructure.”

“For many times, we have emphasized to the authorities that construction and maintenance work should pause when tourists are present, and continue once the peak tourist season has ended. We recognize that both tasks are vital for the state, but they cannot coexist effectively. Tourists and construction machinery cannot share the same space. We are already seeing unhappy visitors and our guides, as well as agency representatives, are noticing this. I anticipate complaints when tourists return home. There exists an international guideline called the ‘Frankfurt List,’ which safeguards guests from unforeseen issues. It clearly outlines the compensation percentage that should be returned to travelers for various irregularities. The ‘Frankfurt List’ mandates that travel agencies and hotels are responsible for ensuring that services are delivered as contracted,” he added.

As reported by “Vijesti,” the 54 million euro project (excluding VAT) is being undertaken by the Chinese consortium Shandong Foreign Economic & Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd & Shandong Luqiao Group Co Ltd, with the main local subcontractor being the Podgorica construction firm Bemax.

The construction began in January 2024 and is slated for completion within two years. The reconstruction of this section of the Adriatic Highway, as highlighted prior by the Traffic Administration, will create a boulevard-type road featuring two lanes in each direction, pedestrian walkways on both sides, a median strip, and a new pipeline for the Regional Water Supply System. Additionally, 12 roundabouts and five three-way intersections are in the works…

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