Repairs have started on a 31km stretch of road from Burgas to the Dyulino Pass, minister Shishkov said today. The work will cost 21.47m euros (42m leva).
The project has two stages. The section between Varna and the Dyulino Pass is also being repaired now. The road is an alternative link between southern Bulgaria and the northern Black Sea coast.
The whole job should take a year and a half. "I believe there is nothing to stop the repairs being finished in that time," Shishkov said.
The road will not close this summer, and traffic will run under a special system. Officials are also discussing alternative routes. The minister said the aim is to avoid delays in the area next summer, when the road is at its busiest.
Shishkov said he himself ordered the project for the major overhaul three years ago, when he was minister in a caretaker government. "It is a pity that we are only starting the main repair today," he said.
Updated (10.10, 13:31): The road repair will cost about €42m, not €21.47m (42m leva) as first reported, minister Ivan Shishkov said, citing figures from the Road Infrastructure Agency. Work starts near Kableshkovo. Burgas regional governor Diko Dikov, deputy regional governors Georgi Madzharov and Veselin Anestiev, and MPs from Progressive Bulgaria attended the event. The repair of the section in the Varna region is due to finish by the end of the year. Officials are discussing a detour via Kamenar for buses and cars, while lorries would go through Kableshkovo towards Aheloy.