site.btaEnvironment Ministry Greenlights Construction of Struma Motorway Section's Eastern Carriageway Bypassing Kresna Gorge

The Environment and Water Ministry on Thursday gave the green light to the construction of the eastern carriageway of a section of the Struma Motorway in Southwestern Bulgaria. The eastern carriageway of this section will bypass the Kresna Gorge on the east, while the western carriageway will supersede the existing E79 international road going through the gorge.

The ministry says on its website that under a decision of the minister of environment and water, there is no need to carry out an environmental impact assessment for the eastern carriageway outside the Kresna Gorge, because construction is unlikely to have a considerable adverse impact on the environment and the natural habitats in protected areas.

The ministry notes that the Struma Motorway is a national project as per the Roads Act and under a 2013 decision by the Council of Ministers. This latest decision is appealable before the Supreme Administrative Court.

When completed, the 170 km Struma Motorway will run most of the way between the Bulgarian capital Sofia and the Kulata crossing on the border with Greece.