Minister Ivan Shishkov after the inspection of the yellow pavements in Sofia: Problems are solved when they are recognized

“The big problem of 2023 for the capital Sofia is to make sure that we don’t lose the EU money and to make the renovations and all the works to be done qualitatively, to make sense and to go to the people. This is what the regional minister architect Ivan Shishkov said after an inspection of the renovation of the yellow pavements in Sofia was carried out today on his initiative. Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, her deputy for construction Angel Dzhorgov, City Council President Georgi Georgiev and representatives of the contractor of the repair works in this section were at his invitation in search of a solution on how the project can be implemented qualitatively. With Minister Shishkov was also one of his deputies in the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works - Desislava Georgieva.

“The purpose of the inspection is to clarify to the media the timing and when there will be clarity on whether the problem is technological or not. Secondly, how and when the problem will be rectified.” This is how Minister Shishkov explained why he had issued an invitation for a joint inspection with Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova and the contractor of the construction works at the site. According to him, the most worrying thing is that no answer has been received about the technology that is needed to fix the problem. “The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works wants to help, to be able to pay all the money to the Sofia Municipality and we are really doing everything possible to solve the problem. I want to clarify when in fact it will be corrected so that the repairs can be completed successfully,” the Regional Minister was adamant.

Architect Shishkov recalled that the mayor of the capital had already demanded payment for the repair work in the area of Graf Ignatyev Street. Unfortunately, there are really big problems with this repair,” he said. According to him, during the Christmas holidays Sofia was empty and the weather suitable for repair works, but unfortunately these 15 days were missed as opportunities for repair. He explained that the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works will do its best to pay Sofia Municipality the money, but it will take a joint effort. That is why the Minister has been pushing for this joint inspection - that is how he believes the problems should be addressed. The problem is that there is not yet a technological solution and there is no clarity about a solution.

Responding to questions posed by Minister Shishkov, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova explained that the “disgracefully” tidy stretch needs to be rearranged. A solution is being sought on how the rearrangement should take place. An expert council has been set up, with the participation of Professor Engineer Dimitar Nazarski, to propose a sustainable and lasting solution for the rearrangement of the yellow paving stones, and it should also be the model by which such repairs will be made in the future. According to the mayor, the expert group has already recommended a certain arrangement and is currently working on a test section of the site where the paving is being dried.

Minister Ivan Shishkov accepted the invitation to jointly inspect the 250 sq. m. experimental site. “The moment you are ready, I will come immediately. You know that in the months when we had to launch the Interconnector, I worked in the same way. I intend to work on this problem the same way. As long as I am on the job as caretaker Minister, I will work so that I can help. It will be continuous checks and talks with the builders. It will be very gratifying for me to work together so that we can solve this problem. That is why I have invited you,” he was adamant.

Boyan Delchev, Managing Director of the contractor Trace Group Hold PLC, said the section they repaired had no road base, so they completed the project as specified. “Pavement technology was implemented which is not for heavy traffic. This is the assignment, we cannot execute otherwise,” he said. He said the traffic in front of the National Assembly was not pedestrian friendly. That is why another technology is being worked on. “A trial section has been prepared, a pitch is expected on January 18. The sand base is elastic and we cannot expect it to wedge the pavers so that they do not move from the dynamic load,” Delchev explained.

Professor Nazarski noted that the Panel was preparing to strengthen the sand cushion to 4 cm. “By using water-soluble resin in small quantities, a portion of about 15-20 mm of sand is engaged and a polymer is produced, creating a bed for each pavement, and slippage will be impossible. The joints are 3 to 4 cm,” he explained. In the realigned section, the joints were currently up to 15 cm. The problems will be solved, but the temperature should not be lower than 10 degrees, and in the coming days snow is expected to fall in the capital. “By the end of the week we will hand over a report to the municipality with all the technology, we will even take the liberty to specify quantities for the materials,” assured Professor Nazarski.

Architect Ivan Shishkov clarified that the National Institute of Immovable Cultural Heritage (NIICH) had agreed on the project in the form proposed by the contracting authority - Sofia Municipality, and he was not to blame for the missing assignments. The Minister said that he was extremely pleased with what he had heard from the developer and the expert Professor Nazarski, as well as the willingness of the municipality to actively participate in solving the problem. Architect Shishkov indicated that when the Metropolitan Municipality is ready, they will go together to see the paving sample. And when the result is positive, when time mostly allows, hopefully we can finally “close this bleeding wound of Sofia, close the issue in the best way.”

The Minister asked if the new technology for the yellow paving could be clear within 10 days. Mayor Fandakova made a commitment when she receives the expert panel report to immediately call Minister Shishkov, have a meeting and inform the citizens of everything.

Summing up the joint inspection made in the centre of the capital, the regional minister said that everyone together should help to solve the problem of repairs. “I expect all political parties in the City Council to be constructively active, and I while I am the interim Regional Minister, so that together we can help and solve this obvious problem. Problems are solved when they are acknowledged. Clearly, we all now recognize that it exists. From today onwards, I hope that we set out together to solve the problem of Sofia, that we will certainly make a timetable for all the sites that have progressed - when and how they are expected to be completed. They are phased according to the building permit, which makes sense, so that they can be phased in and everything will be in order, and so Sofia will get its funding.” This was the summary of the Regional Minister at the end of the inspection.

Architect Ivan Shishkov also informed on another topic related to the inability of Sofia Municipality to implement the project for the Borisova Garden in the capital. Regarding the proposal of an upcoming change for its funding, he assured the Mayor and the President of the City Council Georgi Georgiev that despite all these problems, they will have the full cooperation of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, because he hopes that the money for Sofia will be used in the best way.