Angry villagers block Pristina-Podujevo highway

Tenezhdoll residents blocked the Prishtina-Podujevo highway for several minutes on Sunday, demanding the construction of a roundabout near the village. According to them, only a roundabout would facilitate access to the road with agricultural vehicles and make it safer for children to cross.

Residents of the village of Tenezhdoll blocked the Pristina-Podujevo highway for several minutes in protest, demanding the construction of a roundabout that would facilitate their access to the road.
The highway, which is under construction, has divided the village in half. 

From a two-lane road, it has now been expanded to four, making it difficult for residents, especially farmers, to move around.

According to Mentor Rrahmani, a village representative, building a roundabout closer to the settlement would allow easier access for agricultural vehicles.

"It is very difficult for farmers because their fields are at the bottom of the road and heavy agricultural vehicles have a hard time moving freely here, because they have to travel many kilometers. In reality, the road has been extended by 7.5 kilometers for us as a village," said Rrahmani.

Gani Kadriu, a resident of the village, said that the reason he came out in protest on Sunday is the danger posed to children while crossing the road, where there are metal barriers.

"We have a problem taking our children to school. We need them every morning, so there are 6 houses here, so we have to send our children across the street and bring them back every morning. We have problems with the road, most of the time they get stuck in the road, to take our children to school and carry them," said Kadriu.

Milaim Rrahmani, another local resident, announced that previously the village residents had signed a petition with the same request, but so far they have not received a response. 

"Now, if there is a roundabout here, zebra crossings are made, people cross, there is a water tap here, we often come and get water here. We have fields here that we have to work, then we have to go with agricultural vehicles, with tractors, with harvesters, with trucks, we have to go 7 kilometers to go around them," said Milaim Rrahmani.  

Tenezhdolli is the last village in Pristina along the road to Podujeva. Residents have warned of further protests if they do not receive an answer. 

And, the Ministry of Infrastructure did not respond on Sunday whether there will be any intervention to meet the demands of the village residents.