The rehabilitation of three landslides on the IIa state road, connecting Mionica and Divcibare, will have been completed by the end of June 2017 with the support of the European Union, through the EU Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia Programme.
The EUR200,000 worth construction works kicked off in October 2016 and included the construction of supporting and gabion walls which, together with drainage channels, will protect the road in case of heavy rainfalls and increased level of underground waters. Following the completion of remediation, soil pressure will be decreased and road slope stabilised and protected from erosion, which will contribute to reducing the risk of landslides in the Municipality of Mionica.
„Thanks to EU funding, we will succeed in providing long-term solution for landslides, thus eliminating the need for further investment in the near future. After the completion of works, there will be no disruptions to traffic, whereas the level of road safety will be improved and set at the required level,“ said Mile Zlatkovic, Chief Engineer for Landslides and Supporting Structures of the Public Enterprise Roads of Serbia.
Heavy rainfall in May 2014 caused the landslides and put road safety, water supply and several private homes in danger. Thanks to the response of the Road of Serbia, the damage has been temporarily repaired and alternate traffic movement enabled.
The remediation of landslides is carried out within the project of reconstruction of flood-affected road structures, implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and funded by the EU with EUR10.49 million, with a goal of improving the flood protection system. By the end of 2017, 44 landslides will have been rehabilitated, nine bridges reconstructed and another five constructed. The EU has provided EUR162 million for flood relief efforts and strengthening of flood preventive infrastructure through its pre-accession funds (IPA 2012, IPA 2014) and the EU Solidarity Fund.
EU Assistance for Flood Relief in Serbia worth EUR102 million, is funded by the European Union from its pre-accession IPA 2012 and 2014 funds. The funds are aimed at construction and reconstruction of houses, reconstruction of public buildings, rehabilitation of roads, landslides and public infrastructure, revival of economy and agricultural production as well as the construction of flood prevention infrastructure in 57 most affected municipalities. All field activities are implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), organisations HELP, ASB and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the World Bank – in coordination with the Serbian Government Public Investment Management Office.
