Bechtel and its joint-venture partner Enka have won a contract to build a 60km highway connecting Kosovo’s capital Pristina with neighbouring Macedonia. The new Route 6 highway will help improve Kosovo’s transport links, a highly important factor for the future economic development of this small, landlocked nation. Bechtel-Enka previously constructed Kosovo’s Route 7 highway, which was completed in November 2013, a whole year ahead of schedule. The Route 7 highway with Morina on the Albanian border through
Bechtel-Enka was awarded this new contract for Route 6 following a competitive international tendering process. Work on the highway is now commencing and will take four years to complete. As Bechtel-Enka employed a large number of locals on the Route 7 project, the workforce for the new construction project is already available. But the project is likely to be challenging due to the terrain of the planned route as the area close to the border with Macedonia is mountainous, and the work will include the construction of several bridges. The geology may also be complex, requiring extensive rock support in certain areas. The Route 7 project also required close attention to environmental issues due to the presence of aquifers and it is as yet unclear where similar challenges will face the Route 6 project. In all the route calls for the construction of eight major bridges, with one measuring 870m and this will be the longest bridge in Kosovo once it is complete. There will also be 29 overpasses and 17 underpasses, as well as five major interchanges, two service area and one maintenance area.
“This motorway will create a second major transport artery through Kosovo, connecting us to Macedonia and helping Kosovo become a crossroads for traffic from ports in Greece and Albania,” said Fehmi Mujota, Kosovo’s minister of infrastructure. “Improving our transport links is crucial to developing new and expanded businesses and will spur long-term economic growth in Kosovo.”
“Collaboration with the government and people of Kosovo was crucial to helping us deliver their first motorway a year ahead of schedule,” said Peter Dawson, president of Bechtel’s global civil infrastructure business. “We feel privileged to have this opportunity to work together again and to help further build Kosovo’s transport network and expand its economy.”
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