Lilyana Pavlova: We will declare readiness for the winter in the period 1 and 15 November

‘We will declare the winter readiness on 1 or 15 November, depending on the weather conditions. For this purpose we will stop the work on the projects, as the machines have to be re-equipped for winter maintenance. As of 15 November we must have 3,500 machines. 1,100 of them are at our disposal already, as support has been provided in the mountain regions when necessary.’ This was announced today by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Lilyana Pavlova.

 

She added that during this period except mobilization preparation has also been done, through additional patching of the problem road sections and improving the road marking on the most critical ones, including high-mountain passes.

The Minister informed that national meetings in every region are currently being held. Measures are reported and plans for implementation of preventive preparatory activities for the winter period are made. In each of the regions the most critical places such as tunnels on the motorways and approaches to mountain passes have been identified, added she.

 

Every day the tunnels, the motorways and the viaducts are patrolled in order to be monitored, said Pavlova. It is a fact that the tunnel facilities in our country are not in the condition in which we would like to be, because they have never been completely repaired, said she, adding that complete repair works of Echemishka tunnel began in the period 2005-2006. The funds had been paid in advance, but were stolen by the contractor, as insulation wasn’t made, said the Regional Minister.

She added that the prosecution continues to investigate the case up to now and especially for this tunnel implementation of rehabilitation activities can’t be contracted until the experts end the investigation.

 

Every year minimum maintenance for the tunnels is ensured – resurfacing and filling holes, refreshment of the road marking, lighting, informed the Minister, emphasizing that for all tunnels there is such maintenance. She said that in some places single bulbs may have failed, but neither of the tunnels is unlit. 

 

Regarding Vitinya tunnels Pavlova explained that they are situated in very humid region, as the groundwater flows down the rock and the road surface especially in the autumn is slippery, complicating the traffic. Not keeping distance often leads to accidents, said she.

Pavlova clarified that funds for preventive repair of the tunnels have been provided through the budged of Road Infrastructure Agency, but they are not enough for a complete rehabilitation, including replacement of electric installation and insulation. Such kind of investments haven’t been made for 25 years, said she, adding that these works can be contracted if funds are provided incrementally through the budget. BGN 60 million needed only for the five tunnels along major road sections, informed the Minister. ‘We hope, with better implementation of the budget plan, to be provided funds for the tunnels in order to be repaired gradually, as it has been done with the motorways,’ said she. Still there are sections of the motorways long with the viaducts that need to be repaired and for which hundreds of millions will be spent in order to bring them to the minimum required safety standards, said the Minister.