Recently, Bulgaria and North Macedonia signed a milestone agreement to jointly build a 2.4-kilometer-long east-west cross-border railway tunnel connecting Giushevo in Bulgaria and Krivaparanka in North Macedonia. This project is not only a new railway connection between the two countries, but also an important component of the European Union's Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T) Western Balkans Eastern Mediterranean Corridor, aimed at connecting the transportation artery from the Adriatic port of Durres in Albania to the Black Sea port of Varna in Bulgaria, further promoting regional economic integration.

This cross-border railway tunnel is considered a key project connecting the Western Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean region. After completion, it will significantly improve the efficiency of freight and passenger transportation, providing more convenient and environmentally friendly transportation options for regional trade, tourism, and personnel mobility. Alexander Nikolski, the Minister of Transport of North Macedonia, sighed and said, "This agreement is the dream of several generations on both sides of the border. It is something we read and learned when we were children." Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport and Communications, Grozdan Karachov, expressed the hope that the launch of this project will inject new energy into the completion of the entire railway project and provide citizens with "faster, safer, and more environmentally friendly modes of passenger and freight transportation.

Bulgaria segment: With a total investment of over 1.2 billion euros, it will be promoted in four stages.

The tunnel to Jiushewo section: 2.4 kilometers long, the government has initiated construction bidding, and the bidding deadline is November 11th.

The section from Giushevo to Radomir is currently in the design phase, with an expected construction period of six months. The bidding is scheduled to start in mid-2026.

The bidding process for the section from Radomir to Pernik is underway, and the contract is expected to be awarded before the end of November.

Sofia Pernik section: In the planning stage, it is expected to start construction bidding next year.

This phased implementation strategy aims to ensure efficient project implementation while reducing financial and engineering risks.

On the North Macedonian side, the total investment for the route from Kumanovo to the Bulgarian border is 810 million euros. Among them, the section from Kumanovo to Beliakovce was opened in January this year; The section from Beliakovce to Krivaparanka is currently under construction; The bidding for the 24 kilometer section from Kriva Palanka to the Bulgarian border will be restarted next month. The previous tender was launched in December 2023, but was cancelled due to the high estimated cost of 560 million euros. The North Macedonian Ministry of Transport stated that it will optimize the plan to control costs. Keywords: construction news, foreign construction news

The Western Balkans Eastern Mediterranean Corridor project of the European Union is an important measure to promote regional connectivity. After its completion, the railway project will further strengthen the connection between Western Balkan countries and the EU market, promote trade and investment flows, and have profound significance for regional economic development.Editor/Cheng Liting