Minister Nikolay Nankov: Today, we are beginning the completion of “Struma” highway

In August 2019, we will have approx. another 13 km of highway from Blagoevgrad to Krupnik, stated the regional minister

We are laying the foundations for construction of the final stages of implementation of the “Struma” highway. The project is important not only for Blagoevgrad region and Southwestern Bulgaria, but also for our entire country, as a national, European, trans-national priority. This was stated by the Minister of regional development and public works Nikolay Nankov, who, together with the minister of transport, information technology, and communications Ivaylo Moskovski, broke ground for the construction of lot 3.1 of the “Struma” highway between Blagoevgrad and Krupnik. The event was attended also by the Management board of the “Road infrastructure” agency – the chairman eng. Doncho Atanasov, and members eng. Svetoslav Glosov and eng. Veselin Davidov.

The stretch is 12.6 km long.  Two large road junctions are planned to be constructed on it – Blagoevgrad South, and at Simitli, as well as over 20 engineering constructions, including large bridges over Struma and the rivers Logodashka and Suha, explained minister Nankov.  “I am convinced that with a good pace, organization, and work, constructors will not only manage on time, but also brilliantly, with their commitments, and we will witness in August 2019 a completed and constructed stretch of the “Struma” highway, said Nankov.

He wished the construction workers and the oversight company successful work, noting also that a lot of work is yet to be done on the completion of archaeological studies along the route of the lot.  The minister expressed his gratitude also to the “Road infrastructure” agency for the tremendous volume of work before the actual construction. “Despite a certain delay, we managed to issue construction permits and to work within schedules, in order to have 12.6 km of new highway within two years", said also the Minister of regional development and public works.

Construction of the stretch of the “Struma” highway between Blagoevgrad and Krupnik. Lot 3.1 is financed by Operational programme “Transport and transport infrastructure” 2014-2020. Construction of “Smart transport systems” with stations for detection and management of traffic, video surveillance, and meteorological stations is envisaged.

The contractor for lot 3.1 is DZZD “AM STRUMA 3.1". The contract value is BGN 139,021,499.92, VAT-exclusive. Construction oversight shall be implemented by DZZD “SN AM Struma Lot 3.1". Their contract is for BGN 1,695,249.00, VAT-exclusive.