The Road Infrastructure Agency announces a tender for a project to bypass the Kresna Gorge.

The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) announced a public procurement for the selection of a contractor to develop a concept design for the full provision of the transport route Sofia - Kulata in the section Simitli - Kresna, outside the Kresna Gorge. Offers for the contract, with an estimated value of 2.5 million BGN without VAT, are accepted until July 21.

The future contractor will have to explore and develop a concept design for a new route that will fully provide the direction from Sofia to Kulata in the specified section, by taking it out of the Kresna Gorge. The aim is to conduct studies on the possibility of the Struma Motorway lane towards Kulata to be built immediately next to the lane towards Sofia, in order to completely divert the transit traffic from the gorge.

The contractor will also have to prepare the documentation for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the Compatibility Assessments (CA) necessary for conducting the procedures regulated in the environmental legislation. It will also propose effective integrated measures that are in line with environmental protection standards and do not harm the species and habitats in the protected areas "Kresna" and "Kresna Ilindentsi".

The construction of the last section of the Struma Motorway through the Kresna Gorge is in the focus of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats. At the 44th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention, a convergence of positions between the Bulgarian authorities and environmental organizations was achieved. In implementation of the recommendations, the Council of Ministers adopted a Roadmap for the completion of the motorway, and the announced public procurement is part of this process. A permanent expert group has also been established, with representatives of environmental organizations, who have agreed the terms of reference for the contract.