Motorways under construction

The Trakia Motorway – A1, A4 (part from the Trans - European Corridors No 4, 8 and 10). The total length of the motorway is 360 km of which 171 km are in operation and 189 km under construction.

The anticipated investments requirements are estimated to EUR 600 million. Currently Euro 100 million have been provided under a loan agreement with EIB and another Euro 120 million from the national budget. At this instance the construction of two stretches of the motorway (A4) commenced with a combined length of approximately 80 km and with bids submitted by more than 30 international contractors.

The Maritsa Motorway – A3 (part from the Trans - European Corridors No 4, 9 and 10). The total length of the motorway is 112 km. In operation are 20 km from the left carriageway in the section Lyubimets – Svilengrad.

The anticipated investments requirements are estimated to EUR 300 million. Currently works on the motorway are at the slowdown because of lack of financing.

The Hemus Motorway – A2. The total length is 433 km of which 129 km are in operation and 23 km under construction with a financing coming from the state budget. Currently works on the motorway are at the slowdown because of lack of financing.

The Struma Motorway –(part from the Trans - European Corridor No 4). The total length of the motorway is 156 km.

The anticipated investments requirements for putting into operation the 80 km section to Dupnitsa and the section Kresna – Greek border are estimated to EUR 200 million. The expected cost for entire completion in long term period is EUR 500 million.

The Lyulin Motorway – (part from the Trans - European Corridor No 4, 8). The total length of the motorway is 19 km.

The anticipated investments requirements are estimated to EUR 108 million. Euro 26 million will be provided by the state budget, Euro 82 million will be granted by the ISPA.

The anticipated investments requirements for the entire realisation of the long-term programme are estimated to Euro 500 million.

The programme includes construction, rehabilitation and improvements of major E-roads and national roads class 1 and 2. The majority of the projects are planned for completion in 2006 with the pavement bearing capacity being upgraded to 11.5 t/axle and Works being undertaken under internationally recognised standards and specifications and best practice.

The programme is implemented by the following subprogrammes:

- Transit roads 1, 2, 3 and 4 - financing is provided by the state budget, EBRD, EIB and ISPA.

Early in the year 2005 the effective completion of Transit roads 3 is anticipated with a combined length of 600 km, as well as the ongoing of Trnasit roads 4 with another 400 km. With the completion of the Transit roads program it is anticipated that the major part of the national road network will be brought to a standard of service ability, compatible to these of these of the road networks of Central and Western Europe.

- Cross-border co-operationThe projects financed by the Programme include upgrading of international transit routes to the existing cross border check points with Greece – Kulata-Promahon and Novo Selo-Ormenion and the construction of the approaches to the three new Cross Border Check Points (CBCP).

The total value for the projects is Euro 135 million of which Euro 65 million are provided by Phare Programme, Euro 40 million by the ISPA and Euro 30 million by the state budget.

The opening of the new cross-border checkpoints is envisaged in the following sequence: CBCP Ilinden Gotse Delchev-Drama at the end of 2004; CBCP Makaza Kardzhali-Alexandroupolis in 2005 and CBCP Eldzhe Rudozem-Ksanti in 2006.

 - General road Construction and rehabilitation schemes - investments are provided by the state budget. Some of the major construction and rehabilitation schemes are:

- Sofia ring road, Southern catenary is with total length 28 km of which 4 km are in operation.

The Trans-European Motorway (TEM) Kalotina – Sofia – Sofia ring road, Northern catenary – Trakia Motorway is part from the Trans - European Corridors No 4, 8 and 10. The total length of the motorway is 82 km of which 12 km are in operation.

The necessary investments for the medium term programme realisation, i.e. construction of 24 km of Sofia ring road, are EUR 90 million, provided by foreign investments (concessions).

Ring road construction in the built-up areas of the basic road network - investments are provided by the state budget. The average necessary investments per year for the medium term programme are Euro 63 million.