In photos: how is the highway that goes nowhere and costs a billion dollars

Argentina



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After six years of construction, the peaceful village of Matesevo is building one of the most expensive roads in the world that it may not be able to finish.
After six years of construction, the peaceful town of Matesevo is building one of the most expensive roads in the world that it may not be able to finish.SAVO PRELEVIC – AFP

MATESEVO, Montenegro.- The highway runs through mountains and through ravines and canyons, but at the moment it does not lead anywhere. Is in Montenegro, cost $ 1 billion And, to top it off, it threatens to bankrupt the economy of this tiny Balkan country.

After six years of construction, the peaceful village of Matesevo is the unlikely end of one of the most expensive highways in the world.

In 2014, the country, candidate for the European Union (EU), contracted a A loan of 944 million dollars to a Chinese bank for the Chinese company CRBC to carry out the first section of the highway, of about forty kilometers.

The section of the motorway that connects Matesevo with the capital’s suburbs, Podgorica, will be inaugurated in November. But the country of 600,000 inhabitants will have to find more than one billion euros additional (1.2 billion dollars) for the construction of the 130 kilometers necessary for the realization of the works.

View of a section of the road
View of a section of the roadSAVO PRELEVIC – AFP

Critics denounce the environmental impact and possible corruption that have arisen around a project to link the city of Bar, to the south, to the border with Serbia, to the north and, ultimately, to Belgrade.

Heavy machinery continues to operate on the highway
Heavy machinery continues to operate on the highwaySAVO PRELEVIC – AFP

The inhabitants of the town, located on the banks of the Tara River, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, in one of the deepest gorges in Europe, are trying to see the bright side. “For us, there are positive aspects. Some have managed to sell their land and leave, which was previously impossible ”in an impoverished region from which many of its inhabitants decided to emigrate, a phenomenon similar to other regions of the Balkans, underlines a neighbor.

Now the gigantic pillars of the highway make her house, located next door, look like a doll’s house.

The project threatens the country's economy
The project threatens the country’s economySAVO PRELEVIC – AFP

No one knows how the Chinese loan, which represents one-fifth of Montenegro’s external debt, will be repaid. The first installment will fall in July.

In the event of non-payment, an arbitration commission in Beijing could force Montenegro to give up the management of important infrastructure
In the event of non-payment, an arbitration commission in Beijing could force Montenegro to give up the management of important infrastructureSAVO PRELEVIC – AFP
View of the imposing works which have already been under construction for 6 years and which, due to the high costs, may never be completed
View of the imposing works which have already been under construction for 6 years and which, due to the high costs, may never be completedSAVO PRELEVIC – AFP

In recent years, Beijing has been accused of having set a “trap” for many countries, which have taken on debt to build titanic infrastructure built by the Asian giant as part of its New Silk Roads project. China denies that it wants to increase its influence in the Balkans through investments.

"This cooperation is mutually beneficial, everyone wins", assured the Chinese Embassy in Montenegro. "Putting negative labels on Chinese investments is not only unfair to China, but also disrespectful of the Balkan countries". Meanwhile, Montenegro is concerned.
“This cooperation is mutually beneficial, everyone wins,” said the Chinese Embassy in Montenegro. “Putting negative labels on Chinese investments is not only unfair to China, but also a lack of respect for the countries of the Balkans.” Meanwhile, Montenegro is concerned.SAVO PRELEVIC – AFP
"If we don't find funding sources to rely on, we'll be in big trouble"said Minister of Infrastructure Mladen Bojanic. "We will have to carry a heavy burden".
“If we do not find sources of funding to rely on, we will have big problems,” said Minister of Infrastructure Mladen Bojanic. “We will have to carry a heavy burden.”
SAVO PRELEVIC – AFP
With the motorway, the government is seeking to revive tourism and develop poor regions, while recognizing that the revenue from tolls would not even be sufficient for the maintenance of the motorway, estimated at 77 million euros per year.
With the motorway, the government is seeking to revive tourism and develop poor regions, while recognizing that the revenue from tolls would not even be sufficient for the maintenance of the motorway, estimated at 77 million euros per year.SAVO PRELEVIC – AFP
View of the mighty tunnels through the mountains
View of the mighty tunnels through the mountainsSAVO PRELEVIC – AFP
Environmentalists point to the damage caused to the bed of the Tara River, despite the fact that the Chinese company CRBC has promised to rehabilitate it from several hundred meters.
Environmentalists point to the damage caused to the bed of the Tara River, despite the fact that the Chinese company CRBC has promised to rehabilitate it from several hundred meters.
SAVO PRELEVIC – AFP
It would take at least between 22,000 and 25,000 vehicles per day to make the highway profitable", a goal impossible to achieve at the moment
At least, it would take between 22,000 and 25,000 vehicles per day to make the highway profitable “, a target that is impossible to achieve for the momentSAVO PRELEVIC – AFP
Using the highway to get to the capital would be safer and cut travel time by three, but tolls would be very expensive. Meanwhile, the country is in a difficult economic situation
Using the highway to get to the capital would be safer and cut travel time by three, but tolls would be very expensive. Meanwhile, the country is in a difficult economic situationSAVO PRELEVIC – AFP

Photos: Savo Prelevic / AFP

Photo edition: Fernanda Corbani

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