On Monday, May 13, Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev will turn the first sod in the construction of Danube Bridge 2 between Vidin and Calafat, the Government press service announced.

Danube Bridge 2 is one of the biggest infrastructural projects the country will realize during the next two years. The project will cost 236 mln euros. 226 mln will be spent on the construction works and 10 mln euros on research, design and project consultants. The project is expected to be completed in 38 months.

The construction of the Vidin – Calafat bridge is included in the regional infrastructural projects of the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe. It will contribute to the development of the Transeuropean transport corridor # 4 as part of the common European transport network.

The total length of the bridge will be 1971 m. The reinforced concrete facility will have four lanes and a railway tract. Adjoining road and railway infrastructure also has to be built, including a new railway station and 7 km of railway track, reconstruction of the existing railway station and the building of four two-level viaducts.

The project is financed with funds from the EU programs FAR and ISPA, The European Investment Bank, KfW Banking Group, The French Agency for Development (AFD) and from the budget of the Republic of Bulgaria.