2024-02-13 02:01:04
BGN 7.2 million have been earmarked for the design of the Plovdiv – Smolyan – Rudozem expressway, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Andrey Tsekov said at a press conference in Smolyan.
According to him, the expressway project is the long-term solution to the problem of the isolation of Smolyan region from other regions of the country. The strategic projects for the road connectivity of Smolyan also include plans for the design of a 13 km route for a third lane on the Plovdiv – Smolyan road.
“The people of Smolyan have been promised a third lane on the road from Asenovgrad to Smolyan for years, to the extent of an anecdote. This is an old project, with which a third lane will be built along about 13 km of the route. It is at the stage of initial implementation, so since a public procurement has been announced, bids have been collected, the contractor for the design of this third lane is to be chosen,” Tsekov said.
“The construction of the expressway is the beginning of a process in which, given the legislative requirements for environmental impact assessment procedures, means that eventual construction can begin after a period of 4-5 years. However, this is the beginning of the preparation of an artery to connect Central Bulgaria with the Smolyan region, which is the biggest priority for me and the people’s representatives. In parallel, work will be done on the third lane of the existing road from Asenovgrad to Smolyan,” he added.
Tsekov pointed out that the most significant of the new construction projects is the bypass of Chepelare, worth over BGN 40 million. About 83 km of the republican road network in the Smolyan region is planned for major repairs, and about 30 km – for current repairs.
The minister and the head of API Eng. Yasen Yordanov held a working meeting in Smolyan with regional governor Zahari Sirakov, mayors of municipalities from the region, people’s representatives, representatives of regional institutions. Priority projects for the district were discussed at the meeting.