Vučić expresses dissatisfaction over Iriški Venac delays; Fruškogorski Corridor to open by 2028

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has voiced strong dissatisfaction over the prolonged construction of the Iriški Venac section of the Fruškogorski Corridor, which will not be completed by the end of 2026 as previously expected. During a site visit on June 18, 2026, Vučić commended the progress on the new Danube bridge, a key component of the corridor, but pressed officials for honest timelines on the overall project. He was told that the entire Fruškogorski Corridor is now scheduled to open by the end of 2028.

The new Danube bridge, which stands 255 meters tall and spans more than 500 meters across the river, includes approach roads extending 1.7 kilometers. Vučić noted that Chinese workers have carried out the bulk of the construction, stating that Serbia currently lacks the expertise to undertake such a complex project. However, he criticized the repeated postponements, saying, "Bring me to a position where what are wonderful things turn into me having to explain to myself. At least tell me the truth, when it will open so that I know when that will be."

The Fruškogorski Corridor is designed to link Petrovaradin with the E-75 motorway on the Bačka side of the Danube, diverting transit truck traffic away from Petrovaradin and Novi Sad. Vučić was accompanied during the inspection by Vojvodina Prime Minister Maja Gojković, Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Li Ming, Corridors of Serbia Director Aleksandar Antić, and Novi Sad Mayor Žarko Mićin.

Vučić expressed regret over the delays, emphasizing that it is not acceptable to repeatedly give the public one timeline and then extend the deadline. The project remains a priority for Serbia's infrastructure development, with the aim of reducing congestion and improving transport efficiency in the region.