Sofia-Nis Highway to cost BGN 80 mln

Monika Stoyanova
Nadezhda Bocheva

The highway between Sofia and the Serbian city of Nis will cost no more than BGN 70-80 mln on our part, said yesterday before Nova Television Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov.

Bulgaria will accelerate the construction works on the route so that we are ready by May 1, 2012. On Monday, experts from the National Road Infrastructure Agency (NRIC) and Sofia Municipality launched the construction works on the project, explained Rosen Plevneliev, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works at the opening of technical bids for the section Nova Zagora - Yambol (Lot 3) of the Trakia motorway. This stretch will be included as Lot 0 into the motorway.

The road from the Bulgarian side is about 46 km long and it was divided into two sections - from Sofia to Dragoman and then to Kalotina. The northern speed tangent of Sofia will be built together with Lot 0. Thus, the road Sofia - Kalotina will be connected to the northern tangent and traffic will continue on Trakia to Bourgas.

"We should have a ready project by the end of the year and we must begin negotiations with the EC in order to include Sofia - Kalotina as an additional project within OP Transport. The construction could begin in mid-2011," said the Minister. On the Serbian side, the highway construction is at an advanced stage and will be completed by 2012.