Construction of the new bridge over the Ibar in full swing, one month until scheduled completion

The construction of a new bridge over the Ibar River, which will connect North and South Mitrovica, is in full swing. Less than a month remains until the deadline for completion, which was announced by Kosovo's caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti during the foundation stone laying ceremony.

Work is progressing at an accelerated pace, despite calls from the European Union and various embassies to avoid unilateral actions, and also despite a petition signed by more than 3,600 Serbs, which was submitted to representatives of the Quint countries, as well as to KFOR, EULEX, the EU, OSCE, and UNMIK missions, expressing citizens’ dissatisfaction with Pristina's unilateral decision. The construction of the new bridge was not even discussed by the councilors of the North Mitrovica Municipal Assembly.

Deputy Minister of Infrastructure in a caretaker capacity, Hysen Durmishi, announced yesterday on Facebook that the placement of the main girders marked the completion of another phase in the construction of the new bridge.

“It has been one month and two days since we began. The concrete piles, foundations, and columns of the bridge have been poured, prepared, reinforced, and concreted. Eighteen girders were placed, all prepared, reinforced, and concreted in a workshop in Bair near Mitrovica,” Durmishi wrote, adding that “in September, the bridge will be ready for vehicle and pedestrian traffic.”

Albin Kurti announced the construction of new bridges over the Ibar shortly after the formation of a joint committee of North and South Mitrovica made up of Albanian representatives from both municipalities.

On July 1, Kurti laid the foundation stone, announcing at the time that the bridge would open in September.

The main bridge over the Ibar, located just 200 meters from the one currently under construction, has been closed to vehicle traffic since the arrival of international forces in Kosovo in 1999, after numerous interethnic conflicts that occurred when Albanians attempted to forcefully cross into the northern part of what was then a unified Kosovska Mitrovica. This is precisely what fuels fear among Serbs, that Albanians will again try to do what they did 26 years ago.

The many conflicts eventually led to the division of the city and the establishment of two separate municipalities within the Kosovo system: North and South Mitrovica.

The current main bridge is guarded by Italian Carabinieri from the KFOR contingent, while pedestrian and bicycle traffic is allowed without obstruction.

In addition to the main Ibar bridge, North and South Mitrovica are connected by three other bridges. One leads from the direction of Suvi Do, another is located in the Bosniak Mahala neighborhood, and the third, which is used for vehicle traffic, is near the bus station in North Mitrovica.