The extension of the TEN-T Network to the Western Balkans along the Orient/East-Med Corridor includes the Niš – Merdare – Priština E80/R7 road sections (approximately 110 km), called the "Peace Highway". Strategically linked to Corridors X and VIII, this road interconnection is of great importance for freight and passenger transportation in the Western Balkans as it is the region’s shortest route between the Port of Durrës on the Adriatic Sea and South-Eastern and Central Europe, as well as with the Mediterranean and Black Sea countries.
The existing road on the Niš (Merošina) – Pločnik (Beloljin) section consists of two lanes on a poor alignment and is irregularly maintained. It leads through urban areas, thus posing safety risks to the local pedestrians and moreover, causing major delays to transit vehicles. The investment entails the construction of a 32 km long half-profile motorway, including several bridges, tunnels, overpasses and multi-level junctions (interchanges). It is the first (of three) road section of the Niš – Merdare – Pristina motorway to benefit from investment financing under the Connectivity Agenda through WBIF.
This investment is expected to yield several benefits, including an increase in travel speeds of up to 100 km/h, a substantial reduction of travel times and thus reducing the environmental impact on urban areas. It is also estimated that the annual average traffic will increase by more than 2,000 vehicles/day, bringing the daily traffic to around 8,500 vehicles/day within the first two years.
