M-2 highway (Montenegro)

M-2 highway
Magistralni put M-2
Route information
Part of E-65 / E-80 / E-763
Length:	187.0 km (116.2 mi)
Existed:	1971 – present
Major junctions
South end:	M-1 / E-65 / E-80 in Petrovac na Moru
	M-1.1 in Virpazar R-15 in Virpazar M-3 / E-762 in Podgorica M-4 / E-762 in Podgorica R-13 in Bioče R-21 in Mioska R-13 in Kolašin R-10 in Mojkovac R-11 in Slijepač Most M-5 / E-65 / E-80 in Ribarevine
North end:	M23 / E 763 in Barski Most (border with Serbia)
Location
Municipalities:	Budva, Bar, Podgorica, Kolašin, Mojkovac, Bijelo Polje
Highway system
Highways in Montenegro ← M-1.1 M-3 →

M-2 highway (Montenegrin: Magistralni put M-2) is a Montenegrin roadway.

The M-2 highway is oldest and most important connection between coastal region and north of Montenegro. It goes from Budva Municipality to the border of Serbia near Bijelo Polje and trough capital city of Podgorica, Kolašin and Mojkovac. In 2016, M-2 highway was shortened, and path has changed, ^[1] but it was considered the "backbone of the Montenegrin road network".^[2]

Most notorious part of this road is Platije Canyon, where more then 1200 people have lost their lives.^[3] Part of the Bar-Boljare motorway that is being built from 2015 till 2019 (marked red on the picture) is going to be new and safe connection between Podgorica and Kolašin avoiding Platije Canyon.

History

Construction on the historical M-2 highway began in 1953. Construction finished in 1971.^[4]

Part of M-2 highway, which was known as M-21 highway before January 2016, flowed through the center of the city of Bijelo Polje and caused heavy traffic delays. As a means to alleviate traffic in the city, the Montenegrin Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs commissioned a project to create a bypass around the city. As a result, on 27 March 2014, the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs officially realigned the then M-21 highway to current alignment. The M-21 highway would now run along the bypass, no longer running through the city.^[5]

In January 2016, the Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs published bylaw on categorisation of state roads.^[1] With new categorisation, M-2 highway was shortened excluding coastal parts of the road, from the border with Croatia to Petrovac na Moru which are now part of newly established M-1 highway. In northern part of the road, M-2 was realigned from Ribarevine now going north via Bijelo Polje to border with Serbia, instead of going via Berane and Rožaje to border with Serbia, which is now newly established M-5 highway.

Major intersections

Municipality	Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
Budva	Petrovac na Moru	0.0	0.0	M-1 / E-65 / E-80 – Budva, Bar
Bar	Virpazar	23.3	14.5	M-1.1 / E-65 / E-80 – Bar	via Sozina Tunnel Southern terminus of E 65 concurrency Southern terminus of E 80 concurrency
		24.8	15.4	R-15 – Ostros, Vladimir
Bridge over Lake Skadar		28.7	17.8
Podgorica	Golubovci	45.3	28.1	Podgorica Airport
	Podgorica – Zabjelo	51.9	32.2	M-3 / E-762 – Nikšić	Western terminus of E 762 concurrency
	Podgorica – Stari Aerodrom	53.5	33.2	M-4 / E-762 – Tuzi	Eastern terminus of E 762 concurrency
	Bioče	67	42	R-13 – Mateševo, Andrijevica
Kolašin	Mioska	107	66	R-21 – Boan, Šavnik
	Kolašin	122	76	R-13 – Mateševo, Andrijevica
Mojkovac	Mojkovac	144	89	R-10 – Đurđevića Tara, Pljevlja, Žabljak
Bijelo Polje	Slijepač Most	161	100	R-11 – Tomaševo, Pljevlja
	Ribarevine	167	104	M-5 / E-65 / E-80 – Berane, Rožaje	Northern terminus of E 65 concurrency Northern terminus of E 80 concurrency Southern terminus of E 763 concurrency
	Bijelo Polje	171	106	No major intersection, bypass east of the city
	Dračenovac	187	116	IB-23 / E 763 – Novi Pazar (Serbia)	Border crossing with Serbia Northern terminus of E 763 concurrency
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus

References