ADŽIĆ CALLS ON REPRESENTATIVES OF INSTITUTIONS AND THE IC TO ENABLE URGENT OPENING OF NEW BORDER CROSSING

GRADIŠKA, MAY 19 /SRNA/ - The Mayor of Gradiška, Zoran Adžić, today called on representatives of all competent institutions, as well as the international community, to urgently enable the opening of the new bridge and border crossing in Gradiška, after the collapse of part of the bridge over the Sava River blocked traffic in the city.

"Today it is clearly visible how absurd it is that, due to the will of one man, BiH is unable to make a decision to open a new border crossing and a new bridge," Adžić told reporters in Gradiška. Adžić said that opening the new bridge would create conditions to carry out a detailed inspection of the existing bridge, as well as its reconstruction and rehabilitation. "According to the information we have, for this type of transport infrastructure, funds should be provided by the Council of Ministers, or the relevant ministry, while Republika Srpska Roads company should ensure maintenance," he said. He also called on the Ministry of Transport and Communications in the Council of Ministers of BiH to take a position on the situation. "We do not have a problem only with the bridge being closed, but also with the fact that the main Vidovdanska Street is blocked. There is currently a major traffic collapse in the city, and a particular problem is 200 to 300 trucks that are stuck in Gradiška and need to be redirected to other border crossings," Adžić said. He added that vehicles are being redirected to Kozarska Dubica, where significant congestion has also formed. "It is in everyone's interest that the new bridge is opened as soon as possible. I am appealing to the international community to take action, because what is happening with the new bridge and border crossing is a typical image of BiH, a situation in which one individual is blocking the system," Adžić reiterated. He asked where the international community is now to say that the bridge should be opened today in the interest of all citizens and the economy of BiH. "Let us put what we have into the service of developing the entire area," Adžić stressed. A partial collapse of the concrete structure and railing occurred on the bridge over the Sava River in Gradiška, resulting in a complete suspension of cross-border traffic for all vehicles and pedestrians. The collapse occurred around one o'clock in the morning, and fortunately, no one was on the bridge at the time, so no one was injured.