2024-07-04 23:17:10
The acting minister of regional development, Violeta Koritarova, commented that work is being done to ease the traffic of cars in the Simitli area, at the exit of the Struma freeway at the junction for Bansko and in the direction of the Kulata border crossing.
“We didn’t like the traffic jam on the highway. We are working on solving traffic relief at the road intersection, which is very large, because two flows come together – from Kulata and from Bansko in the direction of Sofia. Whatever is possible will be done within the framework of this year to ease traffic. We are working in this direction. At least the summer traffic can pass smoothly,” said Koritarova, who visited Simitli, Razlog and Bansko and inspected two sites that are being implemented with investment funds program for municipal projects financed from the national budget by decision of the 49th National Assembly. These are “Improvement of a park in the village of Krupnik” and “Reconstruction of a sports field – stadium, village of Polena”.
Currently, the 600-meter section, third lane, from the end of the highway is being expanded and asphalted, which will allow easy collection of traffic from both directions – Bansko and Kulata. “The width of the bridge is sufficient for three lanes to pass. This is the beginning of preparation for the construction of Lot 3.1 of the highway,” said Eng. Yordan Valchev, a member of API’s Board of Directors. For now, the railway line crossing over the route via a bridge leading to the closed Oranovo mine remains.
In 2025, the construction of the “Struma” highway through the Kresna Gorge is expected to begin, it became clear from the words of Minister Koritarova. “The appeals have passed, we are starting with the first stage – design of the route. One year is the design stage and next year construction can begin. This is one of the most difficult sections, high in the mountains, with many tunnels. We currently have an approved conceptual project, an auction is underway for a second route up on the left or on the right in the mountain, depending on what the consultants say,” Valchev said.
