The Fruška Gora Corridor in Serbia is expected to be completed in 2027, announced President Aleksandar Vučić during the breakthrough of the first tube of the “Iriški venac” tunnel, a key section of the route. The twin-tube tunnel is 3.5 kilometers long and, when finished, will connect Novi Sad and Petrovaradin with the Belgrade–Šid and Belgrade–Šabac–Loznica highways. The second tube is scheduled for breakthrough next month, which will make it the longest tunnel in Serbia.
The corridor project, initially announced in 2016, has faced multiple delays. Construction officially began in 2021 after a cooperation protocol and commercial agreement were signed between Serbia and China. The corridor is planned to be 48 kilometers long, with four lanes of 3.5 meters each, and includes a 1.8-kilometer bridge over the Danube near Kovilj.
The project’s value is uncertain due to non-transparent agreements between Serbia and China’s China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The initially contracted value was €606 million, but the cost has since risen. Serbia secured $608.3 million in loans from the Chinese Export-Import Bank, covering approximately 85% of the project, while the remaining 15%, over $100 million, must come from the national budget. Delays in construction have contributed to increased costs.
