Speaking at the Berlin Innotrans international fair for transportation technology, Macedonian Minister Vlado Misajlovski said that the international bid to build the second stage of the Prilep - Gradsko express way has been made public, in cooperation with the European Union.

"This is a 15 kilometer long stretch, part of an 80 million EUR investment that is exceptionally important for the Republic of Macedonia. The project is divided in three sections, one is under construction, the second is now upcoming and the third will be completed in the coming years. By the end of this year, we expect to select the construction company and we can have work started in the first half of 2017", Misajlovski said, adding that the second stage of the road should be completed by 2019.

Prilep, and by extension Bitola and the wider Pelagonija region, are linked to the main Corridor 10 highway through a narrow mountainous road going through the Pletvar pass. While not a full highway, the express way would help link this important region to central Macedonia and the capital Skopje.

Another major project whose second stage of construction is now opened to potential bidders, Misajlovski said, is the railway link to Bulgaria. Work is underway on the line between Kumanovo and Beljakovce, and the second stage would extend this line to Kriva Palanka, in a project worth 147 million EUR. The third and final stage between Kriva Palanka and the Deve Bair border crossing is in a planning phase. This long awaited railway connection should be completed by 2022, and it would be part of Macedonia's east - west Corridor 8, that should reduce dependence on the north - south Corridor 10. Misajlovski said that another part of the Corridor 8, the railway line between Kicevo and the border with Albania near Struga is also in the planning stage.