Semolj tunnel, built 50 years ago. Of the planned 1 meters, only 750 were drilled, and then it stopped.
After half a century, the first man of the municipality of Šavnik, Jugoslav Jakić, with the support of the presidents of the municipalities of Plužine, Žabljak, Mojkovac and Kolašin, is asking the state to finish the job.
"The connection is significant, there is no other for Plužine, Žabljak and Šavnik closer contact with the highway, with Podgorica airport. It is one of the key development potentials for this part of Montenegro," Jakić points out.
The tunnel is part of the regional road Mioska-Šavnik, it was built by the JNA, envisioning it as a connection between the north and the coast of Montenegro. Continuation of the work on the Semolj tunnel would facilitate this route.
"Now the road leads over the mountain and is completely impassable for most of the year, and the tunnel would make the section much easier and faster," said Jakić.
And Žabljak has a clear calculation. First of all, it is a quick connection with another mountain center - Kolašina and linking the tourist offer. The current distance between these two cities is more than 90 kilometers.
"Žabljak would be only 42 kilometers closer to Kolašin, bringing it closer to the highway. It would also be the shortest road from Žabljak to Podgorica at a length of 104 kilometers," explains the President of the Municipality of Žabljak, Radoš Žugić.
Jakić says that it is not too late and that he expects Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to invite them for a conversation.
Time will tell whether this Government, like all the previous ones, will only tell a nice story about balanced regional development or will move from words to actions.
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