The Ministry of Transport announced that five companies and three consortia have shown interest in the prequalification process for the design and construction of the Bar–Boljare highway segment from Mateševo to Andrijevica.
According to the Ministry, the final cost of constructing the second segment of the highway will be determined after selecting the most favorable bid from potential contractors.
The Ministry, led by Minister Maja Vukićević, has stated that the contract for the design and construction of the Mateševo–Andrijevica segment is expected to be finalized by the end of this year. This will pave the way for starting the main project design and preliminary works, as reported by the City Portal.
“The contract for the design and construction of the Mateševo–Andrijevica segment is scheduled to be concluded by the end of this year. Following this, conditions will be created for the commencement of the main project design and construction work. Concurrently, contracts for loans and grants, selection of project supervision, and other activities such as land expropriation will need to be finalized,” stated the Ministry of Transport.
The Ministry noted that all preparatory activities for the second phase of the highway project are proceeding as planned.
“Each of these activities presents certain challenges. However, the current progress is in line with the planned schedule, and we do not anticipate any extraordinary circumstances that might delay the selection of the contractor or the project’s implementation,” said the Ministry.
The estimated time for completing the second segment of the highway is five years, including one year for the main project design and four years for construction.
The final cost of the highway segment will be determined after receiving and evaluating bids. The financing for the project includes a 200 million EUR loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and EU grants, as the project is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) expansion in the Western Balkans and Montenegro’s priority infrastructure list. Additional co-financing will come from the national budget.
The Ministry reported that five companies and three consortia responded to the prequalification call for the design and construction of the highway segment.
“The prequalification call for the Bar–Boljare highway project, Mateševo–Andrijevica segment, was announced on April 24 and closed on June 23. Five companies and three consortia have expressed interest,” the Ministry stated.
The evaluation committee is reviewing the applications according to EBRD procurement rules and criteria, focusing on legal and financial capabilities, proven experience on similar projects, and compliance with international standards for environmental protection, social, health, and safety norms.
“Based on the evaluation and EBRD’s confirmation, a shortlist of qualified bidders will be determined for the next phase of the process, which involves submitting proposals for the main tender related to the project design and construction,” said the Ministry.
In addition to the contractor prequalification, a call for the selection of engineers and supervisory authorities is underway to oversee project design, construction, contract administration, and project management support, in line with FIDIC conditions and Montenegrin legal regulations.
“A call for consulting services to support the implementation of the Mateševo–Andrijevica segment is also in progress. All these calls are conducted according to EBRD rules and procedures and must be approved at each stage by the EBRD,” the Ministry added.
The Ministry emphasized that maximum environmental protection measures will be observed during the highway’s construction.
“During the construction of this highway segment, adherence to environmental protection measures is a top priority, as required by the EBRD. Environmental protection is crucial, and preserving natural resources is key to the project’s success. Detailed environmental impact assessments (ESIA) have been prepared as part of the project,” the Ministry stated.
The Ministry explained that an initial environmental status assessment has been conducted to determine the existing air, water, soil quality, and biodiversity along the highway route.
“An initial environmental status assessment has been carried out to establish the current quality of air, water, soil, and biodiversity along the route. This data will serve as a baseline for monitoring changes during the construction and operation phases. Continuous environmental monitoring is planned throughout the construction period and after the highway is operational,” the Ministry concluded.
