Balkans: New bridge links Serbia and Republika Srpska

Serbian President Boris Tadic and Republika Srpska Prime Minister Milorad Dodik opened a bridge on River Sava near Sremska Raca this month. The bridge will bring the citizens on both sides of the Sava River closer; it will also contribute to the economic development of Serbia and Republika Srpska, Tadic has noted.

The opening of a new bridge near the town of Sremska Raca was a result of the agreement on special and parallel ties between Serbia and Republika Srpska, one of two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Construction of the bridge began three years ago.

Tadic and Dodik announced they would join together for more infrastructure projects in the future, such as the construction of a motorway on Corridor XI.

The bridge was constructed with funds from the Vojvodina government; the total value of the bridge is 675m dinars [1 euro - 105 dinars].

The new bridge is 440m long and 11m wide. It is estimated that up to 10,000 people use this border crossing on weekends. The older, neighboring bridge is now used only as a railway bridge.

Source: Gordan Milosevic, Government of the Republika Srpska