site.btaUPDATED Final Section of Europe Motorway Unveiled

At an official opening ceremony on Saturday, the final section of the Europe Motorway was put into operation. With the completion of the construction works, the entire route from the Kalotina border checkpoint to Sofia will be accessible via the motorway. 

The total length of the route, which is an important part of the Trans-European Transport Network, is 63 km and starts at the border with the Republic of Serbia (at the Kalotina border crossing point). The motorway also includes the Northern Speed Tangent, through which car and truck traffic is distributed to the Hemus and Trakia motorways. Тhе ceremony marked the opening of the last section, which is between Slivnitsa and the Sofia Ring Road and is 16.5 km long.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev, Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Ivanov, parliamentary Committee on Regional Policy Chair Nikolay Nankov (GERB-UDF), and GERB-UDF Floor Leader Boyko Borissov.

"With this symbolic opening of the Europe Мotorway, we have shown that in just eight months, this Government has achieved something that had been wasted over four years," said Regional Development Minister Ivanov. He pointed out that the most important thing is that all these infrastructure projects, which Bulgarian citizens are currently waiting for, are underway and are expected to be completed within the term of office. "Today, the connection between the Orient and Western Europe is a fact, and the very name of the motorway symbolically emphasizes this union," he said.

Ivanov stressed that it is important “that these priority projects, which we have identified for connectivity with the north and south, become a reality soon, because this is one of the commitments of this Cabinet, and it is also the expectation of our European partners.”

Prime Minister Zhelyazkov said: "When we opened the highway to Nis, we were confident that we would complete the Bulgarian section very soon, within 1-2 years, but then there were 4-5 years of stagnation," Zhelyazkov noted. "Now, thanks to the wisdom of the coalition, the partnership with Minister Ivan Ivanov, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, There Is Such a People, we are able to finish what has been delayed for so many years," the Prime Minister added.

He said that construction on the remaining road infrastructure projects is ongoing, and a section of the Hemus Motorway is soon to be opened. 

"This is the point of having a regular government, because long caretaker and short regular governments create the impression that processes are chaotic, and we need predictability and feasibility for all projects that build the infrastructure that solves all issues, not only those related to better and faster travel, but also road safety and a sense of better quality of life," Zhelyazkov commented.

GERB leader Borissov commented that Europe Motorway is good for international traffic and for the toll system because it will generate more money. According to him, the people of Bozhurishte will be the most satisfied because the traffic will now pass along the Motorway. “As well as in Kostinbrod, Voluyak, Dragoman, and Slivnitsa. I remember that when we started the construction of the Motorway, it passed through populated areas, through a forest, and the train tracks, the entire international railway line had to be moved to the other side,” Borissov said. “We know how it was then, it should have been ready three years ago - now the result is 50% more expensive and three years later, so Bulgarian citizens have paid for the delay,” he added. According to him, all this delay is because of the Continue the Change administration. “What they did in those four to five years, we will now try to fix, but it comes at a price,” said the GERB leader.