site.btaPublic Works Minister: Over 2,000 Snowplows Ready to Be Mobilized

More than 1,100 snowplows have been on duty in the last twenty-four hours. Regional Development and Public Works Minister Andrey Tsekov said on Sunday on the Bulgarian National Radio. The total number that can be mobilized machines is over 2,000.

He added that winter road maintenance contracts are in place for each region: "There are existing contracts, their validity has been extended until the end of the winter season, so the legal dispute that exists over the way these contracts should be awarded has no bearing whatsoever on our readiness and the implementation of winter road maintenance."

Hopefully, with the start of the new construction season, work can be done on all five highways currently under construction, he said. Tsekov pointed out that almost all debts to road companies have been paid off by the caretaker cabinet, while current debts are being serviced immediately.

The Minister explained that every month between 15 and 20 road sections are checked with different types of tests - how even is the surface, borehole samples are taken to establish the thickness of the layers and its structure. The tests are carried out on road sections that have been commissioned and whose warranty period has not expired.

"In general, about 50% of the road sections inspected have deficiencies - what has been completed does not match what was designed. Contractors have been notified of each deficiency and all have started remedial action," Tsekov explained.