The Podgorica-Danilovgrad boulevard, built two and a half years ago for 24,5 million euros, does not meet the standards of a highway due to the excessive number of roundabouts and connections to local roads, which is why Monteput yesterday issued a public call for the development of a conceptual design for the new route of the Podgorica-Danilovgrad highway.
This is stated in the project terms of reference that is part of the new public call.
Last year, Monteput announced a public call for proposals for the development of a conceptual design for the Danilovgrad - Nikšić expressway, which stated that it would be a continuation of the Podgorica-Danilovgrad boulevard, i.e. "the planned Danilovgrad-Nikšić expressway begins by connecting to the completed section of the Podgorica-Danilovgrad boulevard in Bralenovica (intersection at the "Perjanik" motel)".
Now, the project terms of reference for the conceptual design of the Podgorica-Danilovgrad expressway states that the designer of that section will be obliged to review and propose a new connection between these two roads.
The reconstruction of the Podgorica - Danilovgrad highway into a 15-kilometer-long boulevard cost 24,5 million euros. Work began in July 2020 and the boulevard was officially opened in July 2022. It is not known how much the new expressway would cost, nor is there an estimate in the project terms of reference.
Locals "made" to join
As previously announced, during the design process, due to the requests of the locals and the local government of Danilovgrad, several new roundabouts and local connections were added that were not planned. Also, during the construction of the boulevard, there were several protests from the villagers of Grlić, Plana, Bileća, Pitoma Loza, Begovine, Ćurioc, Tomaševići... who were subsequently "made" to have their own connections to this boulevard, instead of having one connection for several villages and settlements.
So this boulevard did not become a higher-ranking road, so only in a few places is the maximum speed allowed 80 kilometers per hour, and on most sections it is lower. The investor was the traffic administration, and the project began during the director's term. Sava Parace.
New connections, which were not foreseen in the basic design, were allowed not by professional opinion, but by decisions of the authorities after they were visited by locals or organized a protest. This was done by the former government during the design phase and in the first phases of the works, and later by the new government during the works in 2021 and 2022.
The project terms of reference state that the Spatial Plan of Montenegro plans a high-speed road, a highway for high-speed motor traffic, on the route Šćepan polje (border with Bosnia and Herzegovina) - Plužine - Nikšić - Podgorica, so the requirements are now being defined for the development of a conceptual design for the section of this high-speed road on the route from Podgorica to Danilovgrad, and the examination of potential alternative corridors.
"Given that this road route, after the implementation of the entire project, represents a significant traffic connection with Bosnia and Herzegovina, the construction of this section of the expressway will contribute to improving regional connectivity, economic cooperation and development," the task stated.
Boulevard is an improvement, but there are too many connections
They point out that the development of a new Spatial Plan of Montenegro until 2040 is underway, which should define unique corridors of main traffic routes, i.e. highways and expressways.
They also state that "in the previous period, technical documentation was not prepared to treat this road route as a highway", which is why it is necessary to prepare a conceptual design for this section, which should serve as a final determination and definition of a more precise position of the corridor of the new future highway.
"In the past period, on the stretch from Podgorica to Danilovgrad, the main road was reconstructed as a boulevard-type road, which represents a significant improvement compared to the previous solution. However, a large number of intersections at the level (roundabouts and four-way junctions), as well as a large number of connections on both the left and right sides of the road, led to the fact that the speed was justifiably limited in a number of positions, so that this road has neither the function nor the rank of an expressway. In this sense, the use of an alternative expressway corridor defined in the Danilovgrad Urban Development Plan is being considered, in order to define the position of the expressway through the development of a conceptual design. The constructed boulevard-type road from Podgorica to Danilovgrad would retain its previous function, and the expressway would be intended for transit," the project terms of reference stated.
As explained, the new route of the expressway corridor, which is now being considered, is included within the Spatial Urban Plan (SUP) of Danilovgrad, as a reserve corridor for the expressway.
Now they are looking for a road without connections and a speed of 100 km per hour
The project terms of reference state that the route of the future expressway should have a minimum number of connections with other roads, as well as allow a speed of 100 km per hour along most of its length.
The new road aims, as stated, to provide a better traffic connection between Danilovgrad and Nikšić, with Podgorica, as well as with the Bar-Boljare highway and the Adriatic-Ionian highway. The connection with the Bar-Boljare highway is planned at the interchange at the Komanski bridge, on the current Podgorica-Danilovgrad boulevard, and with the future Adriatic-Ionian highway via the Danilovgrad-Čevo regional road, as there will be an interchange for this highway at Čevo.
Designers interested in participating in this Monteputa call should apply by April 7th.
"The estimated value of the procurement is 60.000 euros, excluding VAT. The deadline for developing a conceptual design is four months from the date of conclusion of the contract. The conceptual design will determine the optimal route and all technical conditions necessary for the further implementation of the project. In addition, the use of an alternative corridor envisaged by the Spatial and Urban Plan of Danilovgrad will be considered. The planned expressway, which will connect Podgorica with Danilovgrad and Nikšić, will improve the transport infrastructure and facilitate transit," Monteput stated in a statement.
Designers to consider two options
The designers need to process two variants for the route of this expressway, which are included in the project terms of reference. As stated, "corridor I" is defined through the elaboration of the Danilovgrad Urban Development Plan, with an approximate length of about 11 km, while "corridor II" implies moving the starting point of the expressway about seven km towards Podgorica and has an approximate length of about 18 km.
"The first corridor's route is laid on the slopes of the hill, bypassing the settlements of Gruda and Sladojevo Kopito at higher elevations, which is favorable from the aspect of the impact on arable land. It is necessary to define a route that will minimize the demolition of buildings and preserve the existing plantings along the route. It then crosses the regional road R14 (Danilovgrad-Čevo), passes above Oraška Jama and after Orje Luka, above the settlement of Frutak it connects to the expressway towards Nikšić," the project terms of reference state.
The connection between this expressway and the constructed boulevard is planned only near the Begovina settlement, and at the intersection with the regional road R14 (Danilovgrad-Čevo), the designer is required to define the position of the interchange.
"At the end point, this section of the expressway fits into the expressway towards Nikšić. Depending on the elements of the route and the conditions arising from the alignment, as well as the solution for the Danilovgrad-Nikšić expressway, the designer's obligation is to review and propose a connection between these two routes. In this sense, the designer will be provided with an extract from the conceptual design for the Danilovgrad-Nikšić expressway," the document states.
The route of the possible "corridor II" starts from the connection with the Bar-Boljare highway near Koman, which, as stated, "implies a better connection of the highway and expressway", but is seven kilometers longer than the first variant. Both variants have parts of the routes that overlap.
"It is necessary to examine the route on the section from the roundabout at the Komane turnoff to the connection with the route developed within Corridor I. The end point is at the connection with the expressway above the Frutak settlement, and is common to both corridors. From the roundabout for the Komane turnoff onwards to Corridor I, the designer's obligation is to consider the limitations arising from the existing condition, the Sitnica River meander, existing vineyards, facilities serving tourism, etc. It is necessary to define a route that will minimize the demolition of facilities and preserve the existing vineyard plantations on this section," the project terms of reference state.
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