During 2025, open public procurement procedures were launched for six sections along the Corridor Vc motorway route, as well as for motorway sections outside the Corridor Vc alignment and for express roads. The procurement process was successfully completed for five sections, contracts were signed with the most favourable bidders, and their implementation is expected to begin shortly.

The Public Company Motorways of the Federation of BiH submitted the Implementation Plan for the 2026 sections, which, in addition to these six sections, includes five new sections requiring preventive archaeological investigations. It is expected that several protective archaeological excavations will also need to be organised in 2026, depending on the results of the preventive investigations.

In line with the above, a study visit to Croatia was organised, given Croatia’s extensive experience in conducting archaeological research during the rapid construction of its motorway network across diverse geographical settings and geomorphological conditions. It was assessed that learning from the experience of Croatian colleagues would be of great importance, as it could significantly influence both the scope and quality of the major projects ahead of us.

Following the adopted visit plan and programme, the Institute for the Protection of Monuments arranged meetings with Croatian colleagues who had been operational actors in archaeological investigations across terrains with varying geomorphological characteristics. Through a one‑day field visit along the routes, travelling on local roads adjacent to the alignments, our colleagues presented the methodologies applied at different sites. Particular emphasis was placed on preparation, specifically archaeological reconnaissance, which marks the beginning of field archaeological research and includes surveying the terrain and recording all data indicating locations where potential sites may be expected along the planned route. This also applies to access roads, disposal areas, relocation of local roads, and larger infrastructural relocations (gas pipelines, oil pipelines, optical cables, high‑voltage networks, etc.). Our colleagues had conducted several extensive protective excavations which, in most cases, yielded movable finds, and these did not cause significant delays in the implementation of the planned motorway projects.

The visit and direct communication with operational actors in the field will greatly contribute to more effective and professional handling of the challenges that await us during the archaeological investigations planned along the Corridor Vc and express road routes in the Federation of BiH.