Completion of the Hemus Highway is a priority of the government, said Ms. Lilyana Pavlova, Minister of Regional Development and Public Works in the morning block on Nova TV. She emphasized that 170 kilometers of the motorway between Sofia and Varna were built, and some 250 kilometers of an indicative value of about BGN 1.9 billion, VAT included, remain for rebuilding.
"Active work is done with regards to Struma Highway", informed Minister Lilyana Pavlova. "Up to 2023 the highway should be ready because this is the deadline for European funding. If we have no problems with the acquisitions and designing, it is quite possible to have a fully completed highway Sofia-Kulata in the next five years."
Minister Lilyana Pavlova once again assured that there will be no toll fees for passenger cars. "What we envisage is toll to be paid by vehicles over 3.5 tonnes for distance covered, but cars still have to pay the e-vignette" said Minister Pavlova.
According to her, analyses are currently made of the price of the vignette charges by the World Bank, whose strategy shows that investment in roads should significantly increase, and this respectively would lead to increased tolls in the future. "For 5 years the price had not been changed. With the revenues generated we could hardly cover the cost of repairs and winter maintenance. Increasing revenue means a greater opportunity for refinancing funds in the construction and repair of roads, "she said.