Minister Shishkov: Europe Motorway presents many problems and little construction

The Europe Motorway presents many problems and little construction. We are starting to solve all the problems one by one. This was said today by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works architect Ivan Shishkov after the inspection of the under-construction infrastructure site and the Kalotina Border checkpoint, which he made together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivan Demerdzhiev. The inspection was also attended by Regional Deputy Minister Zahari Hristov, Engineer Ivo Ivanov - Chairperson of the Board of the Road Infrastructure Agency, Engineer Desislava Paunova - member of the Management Board of the Agency, and representatives of the General Directorate of Border Police and the builder of the Europe Motorway in the section between Kalotina and Dragoman.

Between the checkpoint and the motorway there is a 150 m long section that is outside the project. In order to solve the problem, it is necessary to approve the widening of the carriageway of the motorway towards the border checkpoint and, together with the Mayor of Dragoman, to approve a detailed development plan. We will make sure that the checkpoint is connected to the motorway and not to a two-lane road, Minister Shishkov said. Discussions are underway to complete the construction permit. The procedure is at an advanced stage and I expect the project to be submitted by the developer for approval in about a month, he added.

We approved the detailed development plan for the last section of the motorway - between Slivnitsa and Sofia. It will be delayed because it has to be built legally once the building permit comes into force, the minister insisted. He added that this will not happen before the next three to four months because expropriation of the land that will be affected by the construction of the route is necessary. The delay in this stretch is the biggest and there is no one to bring back the seven months lost due to the lack of a Detailed Development Plan. Unfortunately, the end of 2023 cannot be the time when the motorway will be completed in its entirety, Minister Shishkov added.

We hope that by New Year part of the section between the border checkpoint “Kalotina” and Dragoman will be attempted to be opened, albeit with a temporary traffic organisation. Whatever damage is possible in terms of design and delay will be rectified within the law, he informed.

After today’s detour, together with Deputy Prime Minister Demerdzhiev, we found two parking places for heavy goods vehicles so that they do not cause problems at the border checkpoint “Kalotina”. We plan to jointly proceed with the extension for parking lots, the Regional Minister informed.

Parking is an extremely important issue for the operation of the checkpoint that has not been settled. We have identified steps to address it so that we can find spaces that will fully meet the needs of the checkpoint and not end up with trucks parked on the road, Deputy Prime Minister Demerdzhiev said.

Construction of the second stage of the border facility has also started. The aim is that once the motorway is built, it will connect to a crossing with a much higher capacity. The time frame for completion is 180 days and the endeavour is not to hamper traffic, he said.

Minister Shishkov added that the new checkpoint will have many more control booths, will acquire an aesthetic appearance and will become much more functional and passable.