site.btaPublic Works Minister: National Road Network Cleared Poorly, Maintenance Companies to Be Penalized

At a news briefing here on Friday, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov said that the situation on the Hemus Motorway remains serious due to the bad weather. All available personnel are currently on site, he said.

Both Ivanov and the Road Infrastructure Agency gave instructions for appropriate actions in view of the expected poor weather conditions, but these instructions were not followed, he noted.

He assessed the performance of road maintenance companies as "not good enough, if not poor". The maximum penalties will be imposed on them, including the state-owned Avtomagistrali EAD. Ivanov added that disciplinary measures would be taken in the event of further inadequate action on Avtomagistrali's part in the event of new snowfall and poor traffic management.