CONSTRUCTION OF 5C HIGHWAY BEGINS

SARAJEVO, Bosnia (January 20,2008) - The Bosnian Minister of Communications and Traffic Bozo Ljubic had a meeting in the Bosnian capital Sarajevo with the project managers from all companies in charge of construction of the 5C highway.

He also announced the official beginning of construction of those projects.All the activities are to be completed by 2014.

As announced, some companies have already started the project development activities and 18 months is the deadline for completion of the project, apart for the LOT 4 (the Zenica detour), which is to be completed in 30 months.

The seven contracts are worth 30 million Bosnian Marks. The Bosnian Ministry of Communications and Traffic is to monitor the activities.

”Development of the main projects for the construction of the 5 – C corridor enables us to obtain all the consents necessary within 18 months. We will be given assistance in the process of electing the executors of activities and potential investors”, Minister Ljubic stated and added that he expects all the work will be completed in accordance to plans.

Minister Ljubic signed December 7 in Sarajevo agreements with representatives of companies who will implement the main projects at the 5 – C corridor.

Agreements singed at that point were: LOTs 1, 2 and 3 for the Svilaj – Doboj South (63 kilometres), LOT 4 (the Zenica detour) (9 kilometres) and LOTs 6 and 7 Mostar North – Bijaca (57 kilometres). However the LOT 5 contract was not signed on the occasion for the Mostar North – Mostar South section because one of the participants at the tender complained.

LOTs 1,3,6 and 7 will be conducted by Croatia’s Institute of Construction Activities and the IPSA Institute from Sarajevo, LOT 2 will be conducted by the Lotti company from Rome and LOT 4 will be conducted by the Inox Company from Madrid.