A new bridge over the Danube will connect Bačka Palanka with the isolated villages of Neštin and Vizić

Serbia is on the verge of starting preparatory work for a new bridge over the Danube near Bačka Palanka. The project, valued at nearly 130 million euros, aims to solve a long-standing transport paradox: the residents of Neštin and Vizić, who administratively belong to the municipality of Bačka Palanka, currently often pass through Croatia to reach their municipal center.

Work on the site is expected to begin in the near future. In July, the municipality of Bačka Palanka issued a temporary permit for the execution of preparatory work. These are estimated at over 154 million Serbian dinars, or approximately 1.3 million euros, and include the construction of a 440-meter access road, earthworks, and site preparation.

Facility parameters

The bridge itself will be 1,856 meters long, and the route with its accompanying approaches will reach 3,352 meters. Three main parts are planned: a viaduct on the Bačka Palanka side, the main bridge over the Danube, and a second viaduct on the Neštin side.

The structure will be 12 meters wide and will have two traffic lanes and two pedestrian walkways. It will become part of the state road of the first class IB-19, which provides a connection to Neštin, Erdevik, Kuzmin, and the "Sremska Rača" border crossing with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Two phases and nearly 130 million euros

Implementation is divided into two stages. The first includes design, preparatory work, pile driving, and construction of the foundations. Its value is 21.05 million euros, with a net payment after deduction of the guarantee deposit of 20 million euros.

The second phase covers the actual construction – concrete piers, steel structure, bridge deck, approaches, drainage system, and installations. It is valued at 108.88 million euros. The total value of the project is 129,932,416 euros.

Funding begins in 2026 with 5 million euros from the Serbian national budget. Construction is expected to take about four years.

The contract for the project was signed at the end of 2025 between the Serbian Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure, the state-owned enterprise "Roads of Serbia," and the Spanish company "Centunion." The project is based on an agreement for economic and technical cooperation between Serbia and Spain from November 2022.

Five kilometers that currently turn into hours

Neštin and Vizić are located on the southern bank of the Danube but are part of the municipality of Bačka Palanka, located on the other side of the river. The lack of a direct land connection forces local residents to travel through Croatian territory and pass through four border crossings.

The distance between Neštin and Bačka Palanka as the crow flies is about 5 kilometers. In heavy traffic, however, the journey can take up to two hours due to border checks. Residents have special transit passes to cross through Croatia, but they are a temporary solution – they are valid until July 19, 2027, and cover 847 people from Neštin and Vizić.

For the transport of goods and agricultural activities, the inconvenience is even greater. To avoid border formalities, many residents and producers use a detour through Novi Sad. Thus, the road to the administrative center reaches about 92 kilometers.

Expected effect for the region

The new facility is expected to provide a direct connection between Bačka and Srem entirely on Serbian territory. It is anticipated to reduce transport costs, facilitate trade, and improve access for local business, agriculture, and tourism.

For Neštin and Vizić, the most important change will be practical: the road to their own municipality will no longer depend on crossing a foreign border.