A blocked drain caused a flood on the highway

A clogged drain caused a flood in one of the tunnels on the Podgorica - Mateševo ​​highway on Friday, during the heavy rain, and the problem was soon resolved.

He told "Vijesta" that Milan Ljiljanic, director of Monteputo, the state-owned company that has been managing the highway since mid-July this year.

He claims that the services reacted immediately, using light signals to warn drivers that the lane was closed and to reduce their speed.

"The drain was unclogged very quickly and traffic returned to normal," claims Ljiljanić.

On Friday evening, a video was published on social networks showing how a torrent is flowing in one of the traffic lanes of the highway, worth one billion euros, in the tunnel.

Miljanić points out that the most important thing is that the services reacted immediately by changing the light traffic signs, but that the problem is that many people do not respect them, which is why they have a large number of reports for traffic violations.

"With all new buildings of this type, such things happen because the terrain around the road, which has been changed by the works, has not subsided, and heavy rain easily deposits that erosive material into the drains, which quickly become clogged. We cannot react to 16 such places in the tunnels at the same time. This will happen to us with every heavy rain and for another year, until the land settles. It is important that there was an immediate reaction with the change of traffic signals and a light red X (X) was given as a sign that that lane was closed, while the speed was reduced on the other. Unfortunately, many do not respect the signage. And the person who filmed it committed a violation...", said Ljiljanić.

He said, according to what they know now, that the drains were built in good quality and according to the technical documentation, but that the contract on the design and construction of the section of the highway stipulates that all discovered defects can be reported within two years after it is put into traffic.

Correction of those defects during the trial period is at the contractor's expense, which is why there is a guarantee of 20 million euros, Ljiljanić pointed out.

After the meteorologist's announcement of heavy rainfall, Monteput issued a notice: "Driving in the rain requires extra care. Reduce your speed, adapt your driving to the weather conditions and follow the changing traffic signals. Avoid sudden braking and keep your distance”.

Ljiljanić announced yesterday that they took measures for the winter maintenance of the highway in time and that there is no need to worry.

"Regarding winter maintenance, I can assure you that we will welcome the winter season fully prepared. All the necessary equipment has already been acquired. We acquired ten snow plows with combined spreaders and plows, two Unimog special vehicles, snow blowers. Employee training is underway," he told the "Mediabiro" agency.

He stated that so far there have been many incidents on the section of the highway, but that they are satisfied with its functioning.

"Our services responded in a timely and efficient manner. With all large infrastructure projects, there are operational problems in the initial phase of exploitation. In the beginning, there were problems with the billing system, but we successfully solved them," said Ljiljanić.

When asked about his impressions of the cooperation with the Chinese company CRBC, he answered that it was successful and correct.

Regarding the continuation of the construction of the highway, he stated that the Ministry of Capital Investments applied for the funds needed for the construction of two sections: Mataševo-Andrijevica with a length of 23 kilometers and Farmaci-Smokovac with a length of 12 kilometers.

"It is planned to implement the main project in the next year. This would also include the funds needed for the preparation of the tender documentation. The earliest start of work on the new sections would be 2024".

The Monteput company has been managing the Sozina tunnel and access roads for more than 17 years.

Comparing the results from previous seasons, they confirm that the number of passing vehicles is increasing from month to month, and that they expect a record number of traffic vehicles this year. In addition, the focus is on improving the infrastructure of the 4,19 kilometer long tunnel.

"Regarding the maintenance of the tunnel in the previous period, it was very challenging. It is a tunnel that has been in operation for 17 years. In the coming period, already by the end of the year, we expect minor interventions in the form of washing tunnels and some interventions in terms of construction. In the coming years, we will intensify this and allocate more funds, all in accordance with the regular maintenance plan", said Ljiljanić.

He announced that through educating citizens about electronic toll collection, which is currently used by 20 percent of drivers, he will work on its popularization.

Posting footage counterproductive

Ljiljanić stated that every meter of the highway is covered by cameras, that surveillance workers immediately notice any problem and give an order to react.

"In this case too, the workers reacted before the video was published in the media. Such announcements are counterproductive because they alarm the public for no reason, and they create additional pressure on employees who have to follow very strict procedures, so that their lives and traffic safety are not endangered. "Unfortunately, we have so far had several cases where pictures or videos from the highway are published and they show something that is not objective, alarm the public and give an inaccurate and negative picture of the work of Monteput", said Ljiljanić.