Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expresses gratitude to builders at the Vrbjani-Botun section of the Kichevo-Ohrid Motorway at the inauguration ceremony.
The Vrbjani-Botun section of the Kichevo-Ohrid Motorway, constructed by POWERCHINA, was inaugurated on July 13 in North Macedonia.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski attended the opening ceremony. Xu Lei, Chargé d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in North Macedonia, was also in attendance.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski highlighted the KO Motorway's transformative impact on the tourism potential of Lake Ohrid, a UNESCO World Heritage site, underscoring its role in driving economic and social development in the western region and beyond.
He extended gratitude to the dedicated efforts of Chinese and North Macedonian builders, emphasizing the project's significance as a "bridge to hope and future".
The KO Motorway, spanning 56.6 kilometers, is North Macedonia's largest infrastructure endeavor in nearly 30 years and a venture under the "China-Central and Eastern European Countries $10 Billion Special Credit Line" initiative.
Its completion promises to bolster regional connectivity, facilitate trade, and uplift livelihoods, all while upholding environmental sustainability.
The Vrbjani-Botun section, stretching 13.5 kilometers, has undergone substantial enhancements, transforming the original 7-meter-wide two-lane road into a 26.5-meter-wide dual-carriageway. These upgrades aim to enhance road safety, driving comfort, and overall traffic efficiency within the region.
The project team overcame obstacles, including land acquisition, power facility relocations, and complex traffic conditions, and addressed key technical and managerial challenges, establishing a solid foundation for the motor's operation.
