Reconstruction to Begin in May, Funded by the People’s Republic of China

The reconstruction of the Đurđevića Tara Bridge will begin in May, with the work financed by the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese government has selected the company Shandong Luqiao Group Co. Ltd as the main contractor, according to the project status report adopted yesterday by the Montenegrin government.

Under the economic and technical cooperation agreements between the Montenegrin and Chinese governments, signed in May 2017, China is providing non-repayable financial aid of 60 million Chinese yuan, to be used for the reconstruction of the Đurđevića Tara Bridge and other projects.

Financial Obligations

The Embassy of China submitted a supplementary agreement specifying that the total cost covered by the Chinese side for the completion of all works, including testing, design, and construction, amounts to 51.8 million yuan (nearly 7 million euros).

The reconstruction is planned to start in May this year, with a construction period of eight months (excluding the winter season). However, the official construction schedule and start date will be determined and announced later.

Montenegro’s Transport Administration will establish a working team to monitor, implement, and oversee all aspects of the project, according to the government report.

At the end of last year, the government declared the project a matter of public interest, enabling the start of expropriation procedures, for which 104,027 euros have been allocated.

Bridge History and Structural Issues

The Đurđevića Tara Bridge, built between 1938 and 1940, has not undergone reconstruction for over 30 years.

According to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (2022), in the section “Bridge Condition and Damage”, after approximately 80 years of use and lack of necessary maintenance, the bridge’s structure has suffered various levels of damage, particularly serious deterioration on the road deck and bearings.

– Since the bridge was built decades ago and the materials used are no longer available, the construction standards from that period remain unknown. According to partial information from Montenegro’s Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs, the bridge’s designers carried out a reconstruction and repaired structural damage in 1986 to address issues affecting the concrete structure. No additional records exist regarding inspections or maintenance since then, the report states.

The China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd. conducted an inspection of the bridge from March to April 2019 as part of the reconstruction project.

Their findings indicated that no damage critically endangers the bridge’s main load-bearing structure, such as the foundations and the primary arch ring. However, the concrete has deteriorated over time, and although the main load-bearing elements remain in relatively good condition, the road deck system, sidewalks, railings, expansion joints, and bearings are severely damaged, affecting the bridge’s functionality.

Urgent Need for Reconstruction

Due to its long period of use and lack of necessary maintenance, the report emphasizes that the damage can no longer be repaired and is becoming increasingly severe. However, the core structural elements—including the foundations, the main arch segment, and the primary girders—remain stable.

– Serious damage has been observed on the road deck, pedestrian walkways, protective railings, expansion joints, and bearings, significantly affecting normal traffic flow. It is recommended that these elements be demolished and rebuilt. Additionally, the main arch segment, spandrel supports, piers, and primary girders require reconstruction, the report states.

Once reconstruction, reinforcement, and damage repairs are completed, the bridge will be able to withstand a traffic load of 300 kN and support speeds of up to 20 km/h.

The Đurđevića Tara Bridge, designed by engineer Mijat Trojanović (1902–1984), is frequently ranked among the 20 most beautiful bridges in the world in numerous surveys.

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