According to the new Spatial Plan, the Adriatic-Ionian highway will no longer connect at the Smokovac interchange, as the route from Podgorica is redirected towards Bar, Ulcinj, and further to Albania. A conditional variant of a fast road from Smokovac to Tuzi and Božaj remains only if Albania requires it.
Without this conditional road to Tuzi, Smokovac would no longer function as a full interchange but would only have a continuation of the highway towards Rogami and Tološi, with just one entry and exit to Podgorica. The proposed conditional fast road adds three entrances and exits, making up two-thirds of the future large interchange.
Because of this planned road, construction is prohibited in the wider area of the village Rogami – Ras hamlet, which has 35 households and around 100 residents, putting their homes and properties at risk of demolition. This restriction prevents residents from planning the development of their land, including vineyards and orchards, or gaining necessary infrastructure.
The local Coordination Board of residents sent an open letter to parliamentarians ahead of the Spatial Plan discussion, requesting the removal of the fast road connection to Tuzi from the plan. They argue it is unnecessary since the Podgorica–Tuzi boulevard is already built, and highway access is provided between Ulcinj and Shkodra.
The hamlet, inhabited by families present since the late 19th century, includes 34 households and two small businesses employing six people each. Residents expressed concerns that the highway project would destroy an ecologically preserved area.
At a meeting with Monteput officials, residents learned the fast road is being built at the request of neighboring villages but noted that while tunnels protect other areas from demolition, no alternative solutions have been offered for Rogami and Ras.
Residents believe better and cheaper traffic solutions could connect Podgorica to Tuzi without endangering their properties. Monteput only promised to try to mitigate the problem but refused to remove the additional interchange from the plan.
They reject the current proposal as unacceptable, stressing that the new highway route eliminates the third phase of the 2008 spatial plan. They argue that the fast road between Smokovac and Božaj is an intercity road with lesser importance than an international highway, and existing connections already link Smokovac and Božaj.
They call for alternative solutions that improve traffic infrastructure and connectivity without causing severe consequences for Ras residents.
The proposed fast road includes 2.5 kilometers of tunnels and 3.5 kilometers of bridges over a total of 22 kilometers and is expected to cost hundreds of millions of euros.
Without the Tuzi fast road inclusion, Smokovac would cease to be a full interchange, having only one entrance and exit.
Residents also note that a strategic environmental impact assessment for the Smokovac interchange has not been completed, as studies are conducted in phases. They argue this violates the law, as a comprehensive assessment should have been done before the project’s design in 2008.
In their public appeal, residents ask for understanding and support from neighbors and parliamentarians, emphasizing their fight to protect their rights and properties.
