Insider: Extra EUR17 Mil for Corridor X Eastern Branch Completion, Permanent Slope Reinforcement in Grdelica Gorge

Koridor 10, Grdelica gorge (Beta/Serbian Government/Slobodan Miljevic)

An additional EUR17 million will be required for the completion of the eastern branch of Corridor X and additional works of stabilization of roadside slopes in the Grdelica Gorge, portal Insider has reported.

According to a government’s decision, this amount will be transferred to state road company Koridori Srbije to fund the completion of the eastern branch and “permanent slope stabilization” in the Grdelica Gorge.

Atop RSD2 billion, additional RSD580 million, or around EUR5 million, will be set aside for “permanent slope stabilization” in the section running through the Grdelica Gorge, which was opened to traffic in May 2018, Insider has been told in the Construction Ministry. This amount will go for stabilization of the slopes where retaining walls have collapsed several times.

Asked by Insider why the section had been opened to traffic if the works had not been completed and whether the section was safe, the line ministry has replied that the problem has been solved.

“The problems with slope reinforcement in the Grdelica Gorge have been fully resolved, but additional works need to be performed on permanent slope stabilization according to designs developed in line with the instructions of World Bank experts and approved by them,” according to sources in the ministry, Insider has reported.

According to an evaluation of the Construction Ministry, the works on the section running through the Grdelica Gorge were worth at least EUR110 million above the initial contracted value.