A major renovation of nearly 5 kilometers of the first-class road I-1, connecting Sofia and Pernik, begins on August 18. The repair works will cover the section between "Vladaya" railway station and "Daskalovo" road junction, announces the "Road Infrastructure" Agency (RIA).
The repair will be carried out in stages, initially working on the section from Vladaya railway station to the intersection for the villages of Rudartsi and Dragichevo. During the repair, traffic in the lane towards Pernik will be restricted, and traffic will be redirected two-way in the lane towards Sofia.
After completing the work in the first section, the repair will continue in the section from the intersection for the villages of Dragichevo and Rudartsi to the "Daskalovo" road junction. To minimize the impact on daily traffic, construction activities in this section will be carried out only at night.
RIA forecasts that the repair of the entire route will be completed by September 5. The agency urges drivers to drive with increased caution in the repaired sections, to strictly follow the posted signage, and to comply with the speed limit of 50 km/h.
To ease the congestion during the repair, RIA recommends drivers who commute daily between Sofia and Pernik to use the "Struma" highway as an alternative route.
Scope of repair works
The repair works include:
- Laying new asphalt concrete pavement, reinforced with geogrid across the entire width of the lane
- Improving drainage and restoring culverts
- Equipping the road with new concrete curbs, restraint systems (guardrails), and road signs
The contractor for the repair is DZZD "PATISHTA PERNIK 2023", with which RIA has a contract under the Public Procurement Act for maintaining republican roads in the Pernik region.
This repair is part of RIA's efforts to improve road infrastructure in the country and ensure safer and more comfortable travel. The renovation of this key section is expected to lead to a significant improvement in transport links between the capital and Pernik, while increasing traffic safety in the area.
Drivers and local residents are urged to be patient during the repair works and to plan their trips with possible delays in mind. RIA assures that it will make every effort to complete the repair on time and minimize inconvenience for road users.