The projects which Bulgaria will be implementing until 2013 under the Operational Program "Transport" total 990 million euro, and under the Operational Program "Regional Development" 255 million euro.

The building of the Trakia Motorway is a priority infrastructure project of national and international importance - it is part of European Transport Corridor VIII and the Transeuropean Highway.

The section of the Trakia Motorway which is to be built is 115.1 km long and is worth 350 million euro. It should be completed by the autumn of 2012. According to Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, this motorway may be ready by the beginning of July 2012.

A priority for the State will also be the construction of a 67 km section of the Maritsa Motorway, which will link the Trakia Motorway with Turkey at the Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint. The building of the section is expected to cost 104 million euro and to be finished in the spring of 2013.

The building of 65.78 km of the Strouma Motorway will cost 250 million euro. Three of a total of four sections of the motorway are expected to be ready by the spring of 2013.

The part of the Hemus Motorway which will link the northern section of the Sofia Ring Road with the motorway at Yana will cost 32 million euro and will be ready in the spring of 2012.

The construction of the road between Kurdjali and Podkova in Southern Bulgaria involves rehabilitation of 8 km of the existing road and the construction of 24 km of a new road and will cost 32 million euro.

The building of a section of the E-79 road will involve upgrading of an existing two-lane road section between Mezdra and Botevgrad in Northwestern Bulgaria, which is 31.5 km long. Construction is to be completed by the autumn of 2013 and will cost 85 million euro.

The building of the 20.5 km Dimovo-Bela-Rouzhentsi section of the Vidin-Montana road in Northwestern Bulgaria will cost 32 million euro.

The next four years will also see the preparation of projects which will be financed by the EU in 2014-2020. These will include a 100 km motorway between Varna and Bourgas on the Black Sea coast, a 70 km road between Sofia and the Kalotina border checkpoint, an 85 km road between Sofia and the Gyueshevo border checkpoint, and a 61 km section of the Strouma Motorway.

The projects which will be implemented in 2014-2020 under the Operational Programs "Transport" and "Regional Development" will cost 1,300 million euro.

The deadlines for completion of the motorways and road sections were announced on Monday, when Regional Development and Public Works Minister Rosen Plevneliev presented road infrastructure facilities planned for construction and design in 2010-2013 under the two operational programs of the EU. The presentation was attended by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and European Commission Vice President for Transport Policy Antonio Tajani.

Source: BTA