Chaos on the way to the sea: Columns in Herzegovina reach as far as 17 kilometers

Heavy traffic has caused kilometers-long queues on roads leading to the Adriatic Sea in northern Herzegovina, with some stretches reaching up to 17 kilometers long. The congestion, which occurred on Monday, was attributed to the peak of the summer tourist season and ongoing roadworks, along with traffic light restrictions in two Herzegovina towns. The situation unfolded on the main motorway route between Konjic and Mostar, where vehicle queues formed over ten kilometers in length. The worst congestion was recorded near Konjic, coming from the direction of Sarajevo, where the queue reached approximately 17 kilometers at one point. At the entrance to Jablanica, vehicles were held up in lines stretching three to four kilometers. The slowdown in traffic was exacerbated by construction work on the bridge connecting Konjic and Jablanica, where vehicles are allowed to pass one lane at a time. For several weeks, public concern has been raised regarding the need for a solution to traffic light regulation in Konjic. This issue has contributed significantly to the current bottleneck. The surge in traffic is also driven by the tourism season and an increased number of travelers passing through Bosnia and Herzegovina toward the Croatian coast. As a result, the main motorway route M-17 through Bosnia and Herzegovina has once again become a focal point for the challenges posed by the slow progress of the construction of the highway on the Corridor Vc project. According to reports from the Bosnian-Herzegovinian Auto-Moto Club (BIHAMK), the delays have prompted recommendations for drivers to consider delaying their travel or using alternative routes. These include passing through central Bosnia towards Dalmatia or taking a road route through eastern Bosnia via Trebinje for those heading toward Dubrovnik and Neum. The BIHAMK has emphasized that the limited progress on the Corridor Vc highway, only 21 kilometers completed out of the planned 134 kilometers, has further compounded the existing difficulties. This highlights the broader infrastructure challenges facing the region, particularly in areas experiencing high seasonal traffic volumes. As the summer season continues, the situation is expected to remain tense, especially during weekends and holidays when the influx of visitors peaks. Authorities are under pressure to address both immediate traffic concerns and the longer-term infrastructure issues affecting regional mobility. Until these problems are resolved, travelers will likely continue to face significant delays on the main routes connecting Herzegovina to the Adriatic coast.