The preliminary design for the third section of the highway, from Andrijevica to Boljare, passing through the urban area of Berane, largely bypasses the city’s residential neighborhoods, much to the relief of many local residents, especially in the large suburban settlements of Lužac and Dolac.
According to RTCG Portal sources, the highway will pass above these neighborhoods without threatening any residential buildings. Earlier plans had the highway running directly through the middle of these settlements, which would have required the demolition of many homes.
The preferred route now is the so-called hillside or slope variant, avoiding the valley route and minimizing property and legal issues. This means the highway will not run through the valley part of Berane, sparing the Lužac and Dolac neighborhoods, which have grown substantially over recent decades.
The highway will enter Berane municipality near the village of Vinicka, following the Lima river valley towards the city. While the exact route through Buče and Pešca neighborhoods is still uncertain, it is expected to also follow a higher elevation path.
Near the entrance to Lužac, the highway will traverse hills far above the houses. This hillside option is considered the best among all proposed variants, avoiding major suburban areas and historical sites like the Đurđevi Stupovi monastery and Beranselo neighborhood.
A highway interchange for Berane is planned near Buče, promising significant relief for residents concerned about the highway impacting their properties.
Although construction of the section through Berane is still distant, these plans have eased local concerns. Meanwhile, the second section from Mateševo to Andrijevica is expected to begin construction soon. This segment includes a tunnel under Trešnjevik and will end with an interchange at the current entrance to the city near the Bandovića bridge.
The second section is considered easier to build and shorter, at 23.5 kilometers, potentially allowing faster completion compared to the more challenging first section.
The third section, from Andrijevica to Boljare via Berane, faces few major obstacles and could be constructed quickly, depending on Montenegro’s progress toward EU integration and the availability of European funding.
Local residents of northern municipalities, especially Andrijevica and Berane, believe the highway’s completion will transform their cities and finally boost the development and value of the northern region as planned.
