Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakieski marked Wednesday the start of the third stage of project "Repair and Improvement of Bridges on Corridor X".

Minister Janakieski said the implementation of the project on bridge reconstruction and improvement represented a completion of this extremely successful project during which 22.5 million euros were invested in the past two years to overhaul 51 bridge constructions with a total length of 4.090 meters.

"In the coming period, 13 bridge constructions will be reinforced on Veles-Katlanovo section of Corridor X worth 8.6 million euros. The activities in this stage are expected to be completed by September 2015 at the latest," Janakieski noted.

This project is crucial having in mind the fact that the bridges had been build in the 1960s in line with outdated standards and following the overhaul they will be a guarantee for the safety of passengers and transport companies in Macedonia, according to the minister.

He thanked the NATO services for providing funds to realize the project and for their support in a bid Macedonia to meet its strategic goals and priorities.

Kosovo Force Commander, Major General Salvatore Farina said the project was of major importance for NATO. "That is why we have decided to repair the roads and bridges from the Thessaloniki port to Blace border crossing, which is the main transport route for supplies, in order to support KFOR operation in the Balkans," stated Farina.

NATO reconstructed 29 bridges within the first two stages between 2005 and 2009 from Blace to Veles. 20 bridges from Negotino to Gevgelija were renovated in the second stage, the NATO official added.