site.btaRegional Development Minister Inspects Construction of Roads in Northern Bulgaria

Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov, together with the management of the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) and representatives of the Directorate for National Construction Control, inspected the construction of Section 1 of the Hemus Motorway, close to the Village of Dermantsi, Northern Bulgaria, and of Road III-305, passing through the regions of Pleven and Lovech. Minister Ivanov announced that by the end of August Road III-305 will be opened to traffic. 

He admitted he shared concerns of missed deadlines with RIA and the contractor, warning that not making up for those shortcomings will result in the imposition of sanctions. “Four years of standstill led to this - failure to meet deadlines, delays in construction, delays in infrastructure projects currently underway. That is why we are here today to make sure that all these activities have been resumed,” the Minister added.

Ivanov said that finishing touches are carried out on the Hemus Motorway section - only road markings and guardrails remain to be installed, which will be done as fast as possible. He toured the entire construction section of the motorway and the other road with a focus on all the issues that need to be resolved for the roads to fully function by the end of September.  

"This is yet another commitment fulfilled by this cabinet. It was important for all institutions to ensure everything is carried out with quality, so no one can claim substandard work is being done, this will not be allowed,” Ivanov said.  

He reminded that in just two weeks the last section of the Europe Motorway will be opened, with which the motorway will be complete. According to him, Hemus Motorway is also nearing completion, with the forthcoming launch of construction of the next sections, for which building permits have already been issued or are about to be.