A commercial contract for the design and construction of a fast road from the Bački Breg border crossing to Srbobran has been signed in Belgrade.
The implementation of this significant infrastructure project in the north of the country has been entrusted to the Azerbaijani company Azvirt, which, as announced today, will deploy all available resources to ensure the works are carried out efficiently and in line with plans.
Route length of 186 kilometres and designed speed
The future road, known to the public as the Smile of Vojvodina, will stretch from Bački Breg to Srpska Crnja, with a total length of around 185.5 kilometres. The road is designed for a speed of 100 kilometres per hour, and it is expected to significantly reduce travel times.
According to estimates, the journey from Bački Breg to Vrbas will take around 50 minutes, while the trip from Vrbas to Srpska Crnja will take about one hour and ten minutes.
Financing and construction timeline
So far, the construction of 94.2 kilometres of road has been contracted, divided into five sections. Initial work will focus on the western part of the route, from the Bački Breg border crossing towards Sombor.
The design of the entire route and construction of the first section of 22.8 kilometres (Bački Breg–Sombor) is estimated at around 240 million euros.
Although the contracted deadline is three years, an agreement has been reached for the first section to be completed within two years.
The state has secured financing for the first phase, while funds for the remaining sections will be provided in the coming period.
Infrastructure undertaking: 46 bridges and 12 interchanges
The project is a complex construction structure, particularly on the section from Sombor to Kikinda. Along this route, the construction of as many as 46 bridges over canals and road crossings is planned, as well as 34 overpasses, five underpasses, and 35 culverts.
For efficient traffic flow, 12 interchanges are planned: Sombor, Kljajićevo, Sivac, Crvenka, Kula, Vrbas West, Vrbas North, Vrbas East, Vrbas E75, Srbobran North, Turija, and Kikinda East. In addition, 13 at-grade roundabouts will be constructed.
Regional importance and economic development
The “Smile of Vojvodina” is of strategic importance for several districts and municipalities. It will directly connect the West Bačka District (Apatin, Odžaci, Kula, Sombor) with the South Bačka District (Vrbas, Srbobran, Bečej), while the project will also include Central and North Banat (Novi Bečej, Kikinda, Nova Crnja).
The new road will improve transport links to Hungary, relieve the existing road network, and encourage regional development and economic ties with neighbouring markets.
(Blic, 18.03.2026)