Bosnia opens new Gradiska border crossing after bridge collapse chaos

“A decision has been made to open the border crossing from 1900 hours, with a temporary validity period,” Bosnjak said.

He took the decision after BiH’s Council of Ministers failed during the day to approve the opening of the new crossing.

Part of the bridge structure at the old crossing collapsed overnight, forcing its closure. Bosniak ministers at an emergency government session today did not approve the opening of the new crossing despite mounting traffic disruption.

Kilometre-long queues formed throughout the day at what is the busiest border crossing between Croatia and BiH.

Bosnjak said BiH was preparing an agreement with Croatia aimed at permanently resolving disputes surrounding the crossing.

The move was welcomed by the Delegation of the EU to BiH, which said the temporary solution would allow the new Gradiska crossing to become operational after problems at the existing crossing caused by the bridge collapse.

The EU said the temporary measure would help reduce congestion, improve the flow of goods and passengers and provide urgent relief to transport operators and businesses, while stressing the need for a sustainable long-term solution without delay.

The barrier on the Bosnian side of the bridge over the Sava river at Gradiska collapsed earlier today, stopping traffic, BiH’s automobile association said.

For decades, the bridge has been a bottleneck for cross-border traffic, with hundreds of trucks and passenger vehicles crossing daily, while only a narrow road through a residential area connects to the Bosnian side, frequently causing congestion.

A new bridge over the Sava and a new border crossing were therefore built to ease traffic pressure, but it is not operational due to disputes within BiH.