Regional development minister Ivan Shishkov said a free system with live data on Bulgaria's national roads will go online today after 7pm at traffic.api.bg.
The page works on computers and phones. Drivers will see roadworks, traffic jams, restrictions, weather and average speeds on the main road sections. Road and traffic data refreshes automatically every 15 minutes.
Average speeds in both directions come from toll cameras and traffic counting points run by the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA). Road sections are colour-coded by how busy they are. Weather data comes from the agency's weather stations.
Cars and heavy goods vehicles are shown separately, and the system will list the bans and limits that apply to each type. Current roadworks and repairs planned days ahead will be posted there, so drivers can plan a route in advance. If a road section or mountain pass is closed, the map shows recommended or compulsory detours.
Shishkov presented the system at a press conference. He said the main aim is to give drivers timely information, and that better information and a more predictable road will cut crashes in Bulgaria.
The national road network is not big enough and its quality leaves something to be desired, the minister said. He added that digital tools like this are a first step towards easier travel.
A team from the RIA built the system, mainly its information technology and intelligent transport systems directorate and the agency's situation centre. It uses the existing resources of the geographic information system. The work was commissioned about three months ago. Related upgrades under an existing agency contract cost about €200,000 in total.
The system meets the requirements of the EU directive on intelligent transport systems. Media and other organisations can get the RIA's data directly and free of charge.
Shishkov said the idea of adding city roads will be considered at a later stage.