The Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Ivan Shishkov, told reporters that Lots 0 and 2 of the Vidin–Montana road could be completed next year. “Personally, I believe these two sections should be finished within the next year, especially Lot 0, where work is more advanced,” Minister Shishkov said after inspecting repair works on the third-class road between Inovo, Boynitsa and Kula near the village of Perilovets.
He noted that the project for Lot 0, leading to Vidin, had been suspended following a request from Vidin Municipality to build local access roads, which required an amendment to the Detailed Development Plan. Shishkov added that a new project brief had already been prepared and agreed with all relevant institutions. According to him, the deadline for possible appeals expires shortly, after which the minister is expected to issue an order approving amendment to the Detailed Development Plan.
Regarding the other three lots of the road, the minister highlighted advance payments made without full project readiness, as well as indexation, comparing the situation with what happened with the Hemus Motorway.
“The problem with this road is another in-house contract and another case of legal violations committed in 2020. Once again, advance payments have been made, and the situation is exactly the same as with the Hemus Motorway,” the minister said.
According to Shishkov, final negotiations on prices and terms are under way for the three lots. The proposed model would see construction completed within two and a half years, with the state paying for the projects in instalments over five years.
Minister Shishkov said the proper route between Vidin, Sofia and Kulata would be via a tunnel under Petrohan, which he said would most likely have an estimated length of around 10 km. He reported that procedures for the environmental impact assessment and route selection were under way, adding that the project was intended to be implemented through a public-private partnership.
Shishkov also addressed repairs to the Topli Dol Tunnel on the Hemus Motorway and apologised to motorists for the resulting traffic jams and inconvenience, noting that the state had no other choice. He stressed that the tunnel had been in critical condition. “It is better to apologise for traffic jams than for loss of human life,” the minister said.
Responding to criticism over why traffic was not being diverted along the old bypass road through Vitinya, Shishkov said it was dangerous because of a retaining wall that could collapse at any moment. He noted that no work had been carried out on the wall over the past year and added that repairs were planned to begin early next year and would take around a year.
Shishkov explained that the full renovation of the tunnel would take around six months. He said contractors had assured the authorities that a temporary window would be provided around the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, during which traffic would be allowed through to ease the heavy holiday flow.
Regarding the repair of the third-class road between Inovo, Boynitsa and Kula near Perilovets, Minister Shishkov said a major renovation was under way based on a completed design. Bridges and other road structures were also being replaced or built. According to assurances from the contractors, the section would be completed by the end of the year.
Photos: BTA
The contract for the public procurement project to carry out a major renovation of the nearly 12-kilometre road dates from May 2024 and stipulates that the work must be completed within 360 calendar days of the construction site being opened, according to information in the Centralised Automated Information System for Electronic Public Procurement and the Public Procurement Register.
The total contract price is approximately €12,000,122 excluding VAT and €14,400,146.38 including VAT. Of this amount, the price for construction and installation works is approximately €10,714,394.12 excluding VAT and €12,857,273.66 including VAT. Contingency costs, set at 12%, amount to €1,285,727.88 excluding VAT and €1,542,872.72 including VAT.
In early September 2025, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the major renovation of a 12-kilometre section of the Inovo–Gradets–Perilovets–Shishentsi–Boynitsa–Kula road, between kilometre 20 and kilometre 31.8.
Later today, Minister Shishkov will continue his meetings in the Vidin and Montana districts as part of the “Regions Speak” initiative. At 10.30 am and 3 pm, he is scheduled to meet the district governors of Vidin and Montana, Ognyan Mihaylov and Ivan Kamenov, as well as mayors and members of parliament from the two regions.
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