01.06.2020
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić inspected by helicopter the progress in the construction of the Europa Motorway in the area of the 17km-long section between Dragoman and Slivnitsa.
In this part of the future highway the construction started in May last year and working on the site is with full mobilization. During the state of emergency, the intensified construction of the section continued in accordance with the anti-epidemic measures. The completion of the section under the contract is to be in 2021, but at the accelerated pace at work is being done and in case there are no additional and unforeseen difficulties, it is possible that the construction will be completed earlier than planned - at the end of this year.
The value of the investment is BGN 117 million and is financed entirely from the national budget. The section will have two road junctions with lighting - "Slivnitsa 1" and "Slivnitsa 2", as well as 11 large facilities - 5 overpasses, 5 underpasses and a bridge over the Slivnishka river. The planned eco measures are strictly implemented on the site.
Work is also underway on the construction of the other, 14.5km-long section between the Kalotina border checkpoint and Dragoman. The construction activities of the site started in mid-February 2020. The investment is for nearly BGN 165 million and is financed by the EU Connecting Europe Facility and the national budget. The deadline for the implementation of the construction and installation works is 2022. At the moment, activities are being carried out to clear the construction area, remove humus, demolish buildings and asphalt layers. Four road junctions will be built along the route - "Kalotina", "Turmashka mahala" at the 8th km, "Dragoman-Zapad" at the 13th km at the intersection with road III-813 Godech - Gaber and "Dragoman-Iztok" at the 14th km. For the third 16km-long section of the future Europe highway from Slivnitsa to the connection with the Northern Speed Tangent, a technical project with a Detailed Urban Plan-Plot Plan has been prepared, and actions for its processing are forthcoming, according to the Spatial Development Act.
The route between the Kalotina border checkpoint and the Sofia Ring Road is 48 km long and is divided into three parts. The construction of the first two sections, which are currently being worked on, includes the modernization of the existing first-class road I-8 between Kalotina and Slivnitsa. The third section from Slivnitsa to the connection with the Northern Speed Tangent is 16 km long and will pass along a new route.
