Minister Kalmeta - Bascule Bridge the Likeliest Solution for Pelješac

Croatian Transport Minister Božidar Kalmeta met his Bosnian counterpart Branko Dokić in Sarajevo on Monday to discuss plans for the construction of a bridge connecting the peninsula of Pelješac with the rest of Croatia, regarding the fact that the future bridge is expected to be built off Neum, a town on Bosnia's coastline stretch.

After the talks, the Croatian minister told the press that a bascule bridge seemed to be the likeliest solution so that Bosnia could have access to the high seas.

Croatia and Bosnia are expected to reach final agreement on the project within next month, Kalmeta said after the two countries’ experts groups discussed the matter today.

He added that the Bosnian delegation explained that it would like to ensure unobstructed passage to Neum Bay for ships up to 200 meters long. These ships can have different heights, depending on whether they are cargo vessels or tourist cruisers.

Croatia has two proposals which can make it possible for Bosnia to have unobstructed access to the high seas -- the construction of a fixed bridge with a height of 40 meters or the construction of a bascule bridge.

According to Kalmeta, the latter solution is likelier. Zagreb will send Sarajevo projects for both solutions and within next 30 days a final agreement should be reached.Dokić confirmed that a final solution was in the offing.

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