The project has been approved by the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme "Transport 2007-2013" on 28.11.2011 and by the European Commission on 27.02.2013

Beneficiary: Agency "Road Infrastructure"

The project is funded under Priority Axis 2 "Development of road infrastructure along the Trans-European and major national transport axes" of the Operational Programme "Transport" 2007-2013

Aim of the project

After the completion of the construction of the highway "Struma", there will be effectively realized  highway connection between Sofia and border checkpoint “Kulata” on the Greek border, along  the Trans-European Corridor № IV and part of the Priority project № 7 of TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network). The main beneficiaries of the infrastructure will be subjects using the highway and the population in the region. This highway project will divert transit traffic from many cities and villages that currently suffer from the noise and air pollution, and hazardous situations when driving on the roads, and will make road transport in this part of Bulgaria faster, safer and more efficient.

Location

The place of project implementation is South-Western region

 Technical parameters of the project

Highway “Struma” is a part of the Trans-European transport network in the direction of Pan-European Transport Corridor IV in the segment from the road junction “Daskalovo” to checkpoint “Kulata”. 133 km remain to build - from Dolna Dikanya to checkpoint Kulata, divided into four sections.

• Lot 1 - 16.78 km

• Lot 2 - 37.48 km

• Lot 3 - 64 km

• Lot 4 - 14.70 km

Highway "Struma", Lot 1, section "Dolna Dikanya – Dupnitsa"

The object is a part of European Transport Corridor № IV and Trans –European Highway "North – South". As a traffic artery it is of great importance for the integration of the national transport infrastructure in the European Transport System.

The beginning of the highway in this area starts from the end of the already completed section Daskalovo – Dolna Dikanya at km 305+220 and ends at km 322+000.  The section Dolna Dikanya – Dupnitsa, from km 305+220 to km 322+000 is  a part of the first class road I-1/E-79 / Vidin - Sofia - checkpoint "Kulata".

• Overall length: 16.780 km

• Highway with gauge clearance 29 m

• Design speed: 120 km/h

• Road junction “Dolna Dikanya” with overpass at km 305+467: 1 pc

• Road junction "Dupnitsa – North” with underpass at km 319+552: 1pc

• Large facilities: 18 pcs

Highway "Struma," LOT 2, section "Dupitsa – Blagoevgrad"

The object is a part of Pan-European Transport Corridor № IV connecting Germany with Turkey through Czech Republic, Austria/Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

Highway "Struma" is the main route in the direction Sofia – checkpoint "Kulata" along the first class road I-1/E-79 /.

Beginning of the highway “Struma”, LOT 2 starts at km 322+000, which coincides with the end of LOT 1 - Dolna Dikanya – Dupnitsa. The end of the segment is at km 359+483.52.

Overall length: 37.48 km

There is a conceptual design developed in 2012. In accordance with the conceptual design of the project, the main technical parameters of the road are:

• Highway with gauge clearance A29

• Design speed: 120 km/h

• Road junctions: 4 pcs

• Tunnels: 2 pcs of length not more than 500 m

Highway "Struma" LOT 4, section "Sandanski – Kulata"

The object is a part of European Transport Corridor № IV and Trans-European Highway "North – South". As a traffic artery it is of great importance for the integration of the national transport infrastructure in the European Transport System.

The beginning of the highway in this area of highway “Struma” starts from km 423+500. A stage connection follows at 424 km+100, additional connections to the villages Novo Delchevo and Damyanitsa, road junction “Petrich - Melnik”, road junction of ”Semi-clover” type at km 425+180, uncompleted road junction class II at km 431km+200 where is the intersection with the municipal road to the vilages General Todorov and  New Konomladi.

Construction of a new trace of the railway line Sofia – Kulata in the segment from General Todorov to Marino pole is provided.

Stage connection construction at km 438+500 with a length of 0.280m to include the facility in an existing road I-1 (E 79) is also provided.

The section  Sandanski - Kulata from km 423+800 to km 438+500 is a part of the first class road I-1/E-79 / Vidin - Sofia - checkpoint "Kulata".

Technical parameters of the object:

• Overall length: 14.70 km

• Highway with gauge clearance 29 m

• Design speed: 120 km/h

• Stage connection: at km 424 +100

• Additional connections from highway “Struma” to the villages Novo Delchevo and Damyanitsa

• Road junction “Petrich - Melnik” at km 425+180

• Road junction "General Todorov" at km 431 +228.23

• Road connectons "Marikostinovo" at km 433+355

• Large facilities:  16 pcs.

Project executors

Lot 1 Dolna Dikanya - Dupnitsa

Selected construction executor:

Consortium "Struma 1" - 70 240 800 BGN with VAT

Selected executor of the construction supervision:

CLEA "Infrastructure-Highways":  323 280.00 BGN with VAT

Beginning of the construction – October 1, 2011;

Expected end of the construction– August 2013

Lot 2 Dupnitsa – Blagoevgrad

Selected construction executor:

Consortium "Struma–Lot 2"-358 722 000.00 BGN with VAT

The segment will be built on engineering - design and construction.

Selected executor of the construction supevision:

CLEA "Union Struma-PP" - 2 949 843 BGN with VAT

Period proposed for execution of the works by the selected executor - 22 /twenty two/ month.

Lot 4 Sandanski - Kulata - (14.70 km)

Selected construction executor:

"ACTOR" - 67 176 000.00 BGN with VAT

Selected executor of the construction supervision:

"ROADINVESTENGINEERING" SC - 356 419.20 BGN with VAT

Start of construction – April 5, 2012;

Deadline of the construction works - 23 months