The construction of two new sections of the Hemus Highway starts in April

In April, the construction of two new sections of the Hemus Highway will begin. This was said by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Petya Avramova during a hearing at the National Assembly. She explained that they are in the section of 134.14 km, for which at the end of 2018 the government allocated BGN 1.35 billion to the account of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. The Minister announced that the preparations for the construction of the six sections of the route are being carried out with full mobilisation. Currently, in two subsections of sections 1 and 3, actions have been taken to start construction and installation works, and their start is planned for the second half of April.

Two sections of the motorway are under implementation. One is from road junction “Buhovtsi” to road junction “Belokopitovo” with a length of 16.3 km worth BGN 144,934,037 with VAT. The other - from Yablanitsa to road junction "Boaza" with a length of 9.3 km and a value of BGN 66,703,079 with VAT, of which 75% have been fulfilled and is expected to be completed ahead of schedule in December this year.

Minister Avramova noted that the problem for the implementation of most infrastructure projects is the conduct of expropriation procedures, so the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works is in the process of drafting a proposal to allow preliminary implementation of sites before final completion of the court proceedings on appeal of the appraisals for the expropriated properties.

A major mobilisation is underway on the Struma Highway, of which 40.6 km remain to be fully completed in 2023. It is funded by the Operational Programme “Transport and Transport Infrastructure” 2014-2020.

When asked by an member of the parliament about the archeological finds along the route of Lot 3.1 of the Struma Highway near the village of Pokrovnik, Minister Avramova said that the Road Infrastructure Agency has drawn up a project for relocation and field conservation of some of them. Two of these finds – a Roman family tomb and an early Christian church - will be relocated and preserved, and a Roman villa and bathroom outside the Struma motorway route will be preserved. According to the pre-prepared indicative schedule, the work on the relocation and conservation of the archeological structures is expected to be completed in April this year.

A key site for the revival of Northwestern Bulgaria is the Vidin-Botevgrad expressway. The section Mezdra - Botevgrad is in the most advanced phase. The mobilisation for the construction of the section is great. The decisions of the commissions for selection of a contractor for additional design and construction of Lot 2 with an indicative value of BGN 214,560,000 with VAT and a length of 13.43 km and Lot 1 with an indicative value of BGN 147,600,000 with VAT and a length of 19.36 km are expected. In case the decisions are not appealed, their construction will start immediately after concluding contracts with the selected contractors.

The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and the RIA report the inconvenience created by the imposed restriction due to uneven pavement in the section between Chirpan and Stara Zagora of the Thracia Highway. The problem is not only in the road surface, but also in the construction of the road, the Minister pointed out. Therefore, the technology and scope of the repair work must be very clearly defined. The indicative value for their implementation is about BGN 60 million. The budget of the RIA does not provide funds for this site, opportunities for targeted funding from the state budget will be sought. The legal possibility for different speed limits in the two lanes of the highway is being studied –  in the lane with irregularities it would be 90 km/h, and in the overtaking lane it will be higher, for example 120 km/h. Road experts must also give their opinion on this issue. Our wish is for the repair works to start in 2019, Minister Avramova said.