Bad weather has slowed the reconstruction of Freedom Street, completion expected by mid-March

The reconstruction of Freedom Street (Ulica slobode) has been hampered by adverse weather conditions, and the contractor is trying to use every break in the rain to continue work. We hope that the works will be completed by mid-March - the Agency for Construction and Development of Podgorica told the ETV Portal in a written response.

Works on this street in the center of Podgorica began at the end of August 2025 and were initially scheduled to last 95 days. As previously announced, the contracted value of the works amounts to 790-000 euros.

At the end of the year, the Agency for Construction and Development stated that reconstruction should be completed by the end of January, provided there was no prolonged period of bad weather. However, almost daily rainfall disrupted the planned activities.

In response to the question of why the reconstruction of Slobode Street has not yet been completed, they stated that the indicative deadline of 95 days had been agreed upon at a time when the circumstances that later affected the extension of the deadline were not known.

- First of all, due to opposition from part of the general public, we were prevented from removing a hackberry tree on the right side of the roadway. Because of the potential risk of the tree toppling over, favorable weather conditions were not used to carry out additional excavation to replace material of insufficient load-bearing capacity, which led to an initial, significant delay and postponed the start of related phases of the works - the Agency recalled.

They added that it was also necessary to harmonize existing and planned utility installations.

- During the connection of the new to the existing water supply system, the need for additional fittings and water supply valves in the existing shafts was identified at the request of the company Water Supply and Sewerage, which required the expansion of the shaft at the intersection with Hercegovačka Street and the construction of a new reinforced concrete shaft, significantly larger than the previous one, at the intersection with Ivan Crnojević Boulevard - the Agency’s response states.

During the execution of the works, they said, investors of two large-scale buildings planned on the left side of the street informed them that their projects were in the final stage of preparation. As a result, technical solutions were harmonized and additional works were carried out on underground installations.

- This was necessary in order to avoid later demolition of paved surfaces, the concrete base, and corrections to completed installations after the regulation of utility infrastructure fees for those buildings - the Agency emphasized.

When asked what activities remain, they replied that the majority of works on underground installations have been completed, as well as the replacement of material with insufficient load-bearing capacity, and concreting of the base on the sidewalks and most of the roadway.

- The reconstruction of shafts at the intersections with Hercegovačka Street and Ivan Crnojević Boulevard has been completed, due to the need for additional fittings and water supply valves in accordance with the requirements of the Water Supply and Sewerage company – the Agency said.

Currently underway are the installation of stone slabs, curbs, and tactile guidance strips for persons with reduced mobility, works on drains and underground utility shafts, as well as public lighting poles.

- The paving of the central part of the roadway with stone prisms, installation of public lighting and traffic signage, planting of 13 Mediterranean oak trees, as was done in the first section of Freedom Street, and landscaping of green areas are still to follow - the Agency stated.

They also noted that until the expiration of the contracted deadline, there were no grounds for charging contractual penalties, given that the contractor was also performing additional works.

- The construction of this project has attracted significant public attention, and the Agency has repeatedly provided explanations regarding the issues accompanying the works, both through direct statements from the construction site and in written form at the request of various media outlets. The reasons cited at the time affected the extension of the deadline and resulted in works being carried out under extremely unfavorable weather conditions. The contractor also performed additional works, so until the expiration of the contracted deadline there were no grounds for charging contractual penalties - the Agency said.

When determining the basis for charging contractual penalties after all works on the project are completed, all circumstances that accompanied the execution of the works will be assessed on the basis of site documentation and other documentation prescribed by construction regulations.

- Contractual penalties are charged in situations where the contractor, despite having the opportunity to work without hindrance, fails to perform the works. In situations where the contractor is prevented from performing works due to reasons not attributable to them, contractual penalties are not applied - the Agency emphasized.