MORE THAN 5 KM LONG QUEUE OF LORRIES AT KAPITAN ANDREEVO BORDER CROSSING

More than 5 km long queue of TIR lorries has formed at Kapitan Andreevo check point at Bulgaria’s border with Turkey on 9th of February. Several days ago, the queue was 18 km long and drivers threatened to take protest actions because they waited for more than 24 hours. Traffic through the border crossing was temporarily stopped for 2 hours in the night on 8th of February due to maintenance on the Turkish side.

Bulgaria’s ombudsman Maya Manolova arrived at Kapitan Andreevo today to check the development of the situation.

A total of 1,700 lorries went through customs clearance at entry and exit at Kapitan Andreevo for the past 24 hours. Last night, the maintenance at the Turkish side stopped the work for 2 hours causing a long queue of lorries.

The ombudsman Maya Manolova said that 10 chemical toilets have been installed in the area of the border crossing. Their maintenance will be paid by the Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency.

She added that building a modern parking lot which ensures normal conditions for waiting would be a solution. She said she requested a meeting with the caretaker minister of regional development and the new executive director of the road agency and added she would insist on start of the building procedures.

The good news is that the scales are already repaired and all 12 lanes are fully operational, Manolova said.