site.btaRegional Development, Public Works Minister: Ruse–Veliko Tarnovo Highway Was Long Delayed, Neglected

The Ruse–Veliko Tarnovo highway was long neglected, said Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Shishkov here Wednesday. He was speaking during a ceremony marking the symbolic start of construction on an additional 40.14 km section between Ruse and Byala.

He recalled that the highway was declared a national priority during his time as caretaker Regional Development and Public Works Minister in 2022. "The Ruse-Makaza road is among the busiest in Bulgaria, yet it had been largely overlooked. Within 10 months, we approved 70 km of detailed development plans, prepared the expropriation procedures, and created the conditions for construction to begin", the minister pointed out, adding that the Byala bypass is already under construction.

"I did not expect, years later, to be inaugurating works on the Ruse–Byala section instead of inspecting active construction", Shishkov stressed, and noted that time is now running again, with deadlines set for completing the two highway sections by the end of 2029. He pointed out however that there is still no approved detailed development plan for the third section between Byala and Veliko Tarnovo.