site.btaAbout Lv 500 Mln to Be Invested in Road Projects in 2016 - Regional Development Minister

About Lv 500 Mln to Be Invested in Road Projects in 2016 - Regional Development Minister

Sofia, April 15 (BTA) - Regional Development Minister Liliyana Pavlova said that this year's increase in vignette prices will bring an extra 68.8 million leva, which will be invested in road projects in Northern Bulgaria, especially in the Northwest. Until now vignette revenues were an estimated 200 million leva a year, Pavlova told a briefing on Thursday.

Routine and urgent road works will be carried out, Pavlova said, adding that of 20,000 km of national road network, 30 per cent are in a poor condition and 40 per cent are in a good condition.

An extra allocation of 30 million leva from the Exchequer will be invested in repairs of two tunnels of the Hemus Motorway and parts of the Trakia Motorway. The stretch of the Asparouh Bridge at Varna which is in the worst state of disrepair will be overhauled from Friday in order to be completed by the start of the summer tourist season.

Twelve tenders have been announced for the rehabilitation of 240 km of roads under Operational Programme Regions in Growth 2014-2020 worth 198 million leva.

Road maintenance this winter cost 55 million leva due to the mild weather. The penalties imposed on road maintenance companies until the end March are expected to reach one million leva.