site.btaSnow Removal Companies in Eastern Bulgaria to Be Fined for Failure to Clear Roads Overnight

Regional Development and Public Works Minister Ivan Ivanov has ordered that snow removal companies in Eastern Bulgaria be fined BGN 5,000 per hour for failing to clear road sections overnight, his Ministry said Tuesday. He issued this directive to the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) following on-site inspections and drivers' reports.

For its part, RIA has implemented special measures for areas under an orange weather warning. These include concentrating snow removal equipment and stepping up road surface treatments with no intervals between them. This mode will be effective until 9:00pm when temperatures are expected to drop, with the aim of minimizing road surface icing.

Earlier in the day, RIA announced that 986 snow ploughs were working on the national road network. The agency once again urged drivers to set out only with vehicles properly prepared for winter conditions.