They want to build another highway in our country, see the benefits!

A round table on “Rila – connectivity, corridors, perspectives” will be held in Sofia, organizers of the Balkan Transport Forum and the Scientific and Technical Transport Union said.

The purpose of the round table is to present the effect, benefits and the need to accelerate the implementation of Rila Motorway (Far Southern Bypass of Sofia), as a necessary link between the three main highways in the country and their connection with Northern Macedonia.

The implementation of the project will lead to alleviation of the load of the city of Sofia from the transit car traffic, pollution of the urban environment, reduction of noise and increase of traffic safety. The ambition of the event is to discuss and offer opportunities to accelerate the preparation of a technical project, search and determine the sources of funding for its construction.

The future highway will start from the Struma Motorway near Dupnitsa and – bypassing Samokov from the north – it will split in two directions. Pelin (there will be the second connection between the two highways) and through Lozenska mountain will connect with the highway “Hemus” near the village of Potop.

Thus, a person traveling from Romania (respectively from Northern or Western Europe) entered Bulgaria via Ruse or Vidin, can reach Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Southern Serbia and Albania without “smelling” Sofia at all. On the way back, traffic from the Southern Balkans and the Middle East will also not pass through the capital on its way to the Friendship Bridge or the Danube Bridge 2.

The total length of Rila Motorway will be 107 km, and the price is in two price ranges – 534.2 million euros (4.9 euros per kilometer) or 489.8 million euros (4.6 million euros per kilometer).

The effect is more than indisputable: the distance between Plovdiv and Dupnitsa is shortened by 48 kilometers, and travel time is reduced by 60-70 minutes. These two numbers, multiplied by several million vehicles a year and by Hicks tons of exhaust gases, make this expense really appropriate, writes “Banker”.

Leading speakers will be representatives of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works, the Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications, experts from NTST, BBC Roads, GBS and other specialists in the field of transport research and road policy.

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