Due to the media reports that call into question the justification of putting the Pakovraće - Požega highway section into trial operation, including its tunnel system, as a contractor for equipping the tunnel with advanced ITS and SCADA systems, we consider it important to present the facts and the realistic technical context of this phase of the project to the public.
In particular, we are proud of the fact that together with the Chinese company, the key works on this infrastructure project were carried out by local engineers and workers, with maximum use of the knowledge, experience and technical capacities that Serbia has.
The installation of modern equipment, mostly of domestic production, confirms that our country has not only personnel, but also technological potential for the realization of the most complex traffic and construction projects.
The equipment installed in tunnel systems and traffic infrastructure was developed and produced in cooperation with domestic development companies, which further encourages domestic industry and the development of new ITS technologies.
This project is an excellent example of how strategic infrastructure projects can be implemented relying on domestic capacities, while maintaining quality and the highest safety standards.
The section of the highway, in accordance with valid procedures and standards, was put into trial operation at the height of the summer tourist season in order to provide users with safe and uncongested traffic through this extremely important thoroughfare.
Previously, the required security conditions verified by the Ministry of Interior Emergency Situations Sector were fully met, and security risks for protection against the consequences of fire and other traffic incidents were removed.
In cooperation with the Investor/contractor, PE "Roads of Serbia", all necessary measures were implemented for the organization of traffic under controlled conditions, including clearly placed temporary traffic signals, speed limits and warnings, which created conditions for the safe passage of vehicles.
Additional duty as a security practice, which certainly contributed to the statistics that showed satisfactory results in the service of citizens.
Adherence of traffic participants to the restrictions of the posted traffic signals and road conditions, enabled the Contractor to more properly assess the response of the system during the trial run.
During the entire trial period, the Contractor continuously monitored the condition in the tunnels and performed active monitoring through the SCADA system, with additional field checks and recording of all potential irregularities.
Based on real traffic behavior, corrective technical and organizational measures were implemented in a timely manner in order to further improve traffic safety.
The result of this responsible approach is clear and measurable - during more than three months of trial work, not a single traffic accident was recorded as a result of a technical malfunction of the system, poor traffic organization or inadequate response of the automatic control and monitoring system.
The goal of the trial work is precisely to confirm the functionality of the entire system in real operating conditions, so that all necessary optimizations and settings can be carried out before the official technical acceptance.
The planned temporary closure of the section for the purpose of conducting the Final Functional Tests in the presence of the Commission for Technical Reception and representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ministry of Emergency Situations is a normal and legally prescribed procedure aimed at confirming the correctness and readiness of the SCADA system for the automatic control of tunnel facilities in all modes of operation, including emergency situations.
Safe passage through tunnels is not only a technical requirement, but also a basic principle that guides PE "Roads of Serbia" and all participants in the implementation of this infrastructure project. At the same time, such systems require a higher level of traffic discipline on the part of users, and continuous education of road users is also important, in order to ensure the maximum level of safety for all citizens.
We invite the media and the public to observe technical and infrastructure projects through the prism of reality, responsibility and expertise, and not through daily political interpretations that contribute neither to security nor to citizens' information.
PE "ROADS OF SERBIA"