MACEDONIA —A joint venture featuring STRABAG S.R.L. as a 50% stakeholder has secured a EUR 219 million contract to develop a crucial transport link in North Macedonia. The infrastructure assignment involves building an 11.5-kilometer stretch of the E65 motorway connecting Bukojčani and Kičevo. Engineering requirements for the mountainous terrain encompass a 370-meter twin-tube tunnel, five bridges, and two viaducts to support a 2x2-lane carriageway configuration. Beyond the initial four-year construction period, the winning group will handle operational and maintenance responsibilities for a subsequent five-year term.
The financing structure brings together multiple international funding mechanisms. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is extending a EUR 110 million credit facility backed by a state guarantee, supplemented by approximately EUR 20 million in non-repayable grants channeled through the Western Balkans Investment Framework. Procurement was administered through an electronic platform under oversight by the Public Enterprise for State Roads, following a multi-stage competitive tender involving ten pre-qualified candidates.
This development carries significant importance for regional transit integration, serving as a vital component of Pan-European Transport Corridor VIII. By bridging existing gaps between the Gostivar-Bukojčani and Kičevo-Ohrid segments, the initiative creates a continuous, high-speed motorway corridor linking Skopje with Ohrid and the border of Albania. Enhanced transport efficiency is expected to stimulate commercial transit, elevate logistics performance, and bolster regional economic integration across Southeast Europe.
For construction engineering firms, specialized tunneling contractors, and regional infrastructure investors, the contract highlights sustained public capital deployment into Balkan transport networks. STRABAG SE operates as a European technology group for construction services, offering comprehensive value-chain coverage from planning and design to execution, lifecycle maintenance, and facility management backed by an extensive workforce across international markets.
