site.btaRegional Development Minister to Parliament: Technical Design Phase for Shipka Tunnel to Begin in 2025

The earliest expected start for the technical project development of the Shipka tunnel is 2025, caretaker Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Violeta Koritarova-Kasabova said during a parliamentary hearing on Thursday. She explained that securing the areas for the tunnel gates must occur this year to meet this timeline.

"All procedures from that point require appropriate legal deadlines, which precludes me from promising a specific commencement date for the project's construction," Koritarova-Kasabova added, responding to a question from a Member of Parliament.

She said that funding for the project has been secured. A part of these funds will come from the state budget, and they are included in the capital programme of the Road Infrastructure Agency, while another part will come from the Transport Connectivity Program 2021-2027.

The construction project, set to span three and a half years, involves the development of five tunnels covering a total of 4 km, six bridges, and one underpass. The design phase for the facility is scheduled for eight months.

The design of the facility began after a nearly three-year procurement process under the Public Procurement Act, launched in October 2019 and went through a court appeal. Contracts with the selected contractors have been signed. The design and construction contract is valued at BGN 358,020,000 including VAT. The contractor is the PSVT Consortium.

The new tunnel in Bulgaria will establish a direct connection between the northern region in Gabrovo district and the southern region in Stara Zagora district. This infrastructure project aims to enhance transportation efficiency and economic integration across central Bulgaria.