Highways in Bulgaria
{{Short description|none}}
Image:Bulgaria road sign Д5.svg
Highways in Bulgaria are dual carriageways, grade separated with controlled-access, designed for high speeds. In 2012, legislation amendments defined two types of highways: motorways ({{Langx|bg|Aвтомагистрала}}, {{lang|bg-latn|Avtomagistrala}}) and expressways ({{Langx|bg|Скоростен път}}, {{lang|bg-latn|Skorosten pat}}). The main differences are that motorways have an alternative route and the maximum allowed speed limit is {{convert|140|km/h|0|abbr=on}},{{cite news|title=Bulgaria Ups Hwy Speed Limit to 140 km/h|url=http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=140674|newspaper=novinite.com|date=26 June 2012}} while expressways do not and the speed limit is {{convert|120|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.{{cite journal|title=Amendments in the Roads Act|journal=State Gazette |date=26 June 2012 |issue=47|url=http://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/showMaterialDV.jsp?idMat=65541|accessdate=6 January 2013}} As of October 2024, a total of 884 kilometers of motorways are in service.
File:Bulgaria Infrastructure Situation March 2023.png
Generally, there are no toll roads in Bulgaria, and instead a vignette is required, except for municipal roads. Two bridges − New Europe Bridge and Danube Bridge are tolled, both at Danube border crossings to Romania. However, introduction of toll system to replace the vignettes is under way as being a more fair form of payment.{{cite web |title=The World Bank Will Consult Road Infrastructure Agency for the Introduction of a Toll System at the Use of the National Roads |url=http://www.api.bg/index.php/en/prescentar/novini/world-bank-shall-consult-road-infrastructure-agency-introduction-toll-system-use-national-roads/ |accessdate=17 February 2015 |publisher=RIA}} In April 2016 the road agency launched a tender for implementation of an electronic toll collection system for vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes{{cite news |date=6 April 2016 |title=Bulgaria launches 102 mln euro electronic toll collection system tender |url=http://wire.seenews.com/news/bulgaria-launches-102-mln-euro-electronic-toll-collection-system-tender-519945 |publisher=SEE News |access-date=8 April 2016 |archive-date=18 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418171907/http://wire.seenews.com/news/bulgaria-launches-102-mln-euro-electronic-toll-collection-system-tender-519945 |url-status=dead }} and the contract was signed in January 2018.{{cite web |title=The Work on the Construction of the Toll System Starts |url=http://www.api.bg/index.php/en/prescentar/novini/work-construction-toll-system-starts/ |accessdate=5 February 2018 |website=www.api.bg}} Since January 2019, the electronic vignette is in charge instead of the sticker. Later, a toll system for vehicles over 3,5 tons got introduced.
Network map
File:Bulgaria Infrastructure as of 2 August 2024.png
{{Maplink
|type=line
|frame=yes
|frame-align=center
|frame-width=1600
|frame-height=400
|stroke-color=#006253
|text=All highways in Bulgaria, including planned and under construction
|id=Q429141,Q429398,Q429846,Q429538,Q429637,Q6354301,Q19697410,Q16827967
}}
History
The initial plan for construction of motorways dates back to 1973, when the government of Socialist Bulgaria approved a resolution to build a motorway ring, encompassing the country and consisting of three motorways – Trakia, Hemus and Cherno More.{{cite news|title=Магистрална равносметка|url=http://temadaily.bg/publication/9644-%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B0/|publisher=Tema Daily|date=6 April 2013|language=bg}} By the democratic changes in 1990, a total of 273 km of motorways had been built in Bulgaria.{{cite web | url = http://www.capital.bg/politika_i_ikonomika/bulgaria/2008/06/27/519408_zashto_niama_magistrali/|title = Защо няма магистрали |trans-title = Why are there no motorways | publisher = вестник "Капитал"/www.capital.bg | author = Maria Andonova | date= 27 June 2008 | access-date = 5 August 2015}} By 2007, the year of accession to the EU, this had increased to approximately 420 km with predominantly state funding. The EU accession of the country in 2007, and the improved in the recent years utilization of the allocated EU funds enabled Bulgaria to speed up the expansion of its highway network. As of December 2018, {{convert|800|km|0|abbr=on}} of motorways are in service, with another {{convert|38|km|0|abbr=on}} being under various stages of construction.
The first fully completed motorway was Lyulin motorway, then designated A6, a short 19 km stretch connecting Sofia with Pernik and further merging with Struma motorway (A3) that continues to Greece at Kulata border crossing, opened in 2011. However, in 2018, the government decided to merge Lyulin motorway into Struma motorway as both are forming an interrupted route from Sofia to Greece.
After 40 years of construction, the first large motorway, spanning 360 km, Trakia (A1) was inaugurated on 15 July 2013, thus connecting the capital Sofia and Burgas, at the Black Sea coast. Two years later, on 29 October 2015, the last remaining section of Maritsa motorway (A4), branching off from A1 nearby Chirpan and connecting with the border of Turkey at Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint, entered in service.{{cite web|title=След 36 години АМ "Марица" най-после е готова!|url=http://news.plovdiv24.bg/592782.html|website=plovdiv24.bg|date=28 October 2015 |accessdate=29 October 2015|language=bg}} Sofia Northern Bypass motorway, an important thoroughfare north of Sofia, was inaugurated in 2015.
List of highways
=Motorways=
=Expressways=
| class="wikitable" |
| style="text-align:left"| Expressway
! style="text-align:left"| From ! style="text-align:left"| Route ! style="text-align:left"| To ! style="text-align:left"| Planned ! style="text-align:left"| In service ! style="text-align:left"| % ! style="text-align:left"| Under construction ! style="text-align:left"| Tender ! style="text-align:left"| Estimated completion |
|---|
| 25px Montana-Botevgrad expressway
| Botevgrad Image:Mw A2 BG.svg ! style="text-align:left"| 72 km | bgcolor="#B9FFC5"| 12 km | bgcolor="#FFEBAD"| 16,6% | bgcolor="#FFCBCB"| 37 km | − |
| Shumen-Ruse
| Razgrad | Ruse, Danube Bridge; {{Flagicon|Romania|size=20px}} ! style="text-align:left"| 110 km | − | − | − | − | − |
| Montana-Sofia
!82 km | | | | | |
| Total
! ! ! !231 km !12 km !5,53% !37 km ! ! |
Construction works on the 31.5 km section from Botevgrad to Mezdra and the 12.5 km Mezdra bypass are expected to begin in 2013. Also in 2012, were tendered design works on the section between Mezdra and Vidin.
Other highway projects
In 2012, the Bulgarian government announced talks with Qatar to build a South–North motorway/expressway as a PPP from Svilengrad, at the Turkish/Greek border, to Ruse, at the Romanian border. The route is part of the Pan-European Corridor IX. In October 2012, a tender for a feasibility study was announced.{{cite news|title=Tender for feasibility study of Ruse-Svilengrad was announced|url=http://stroitelstvo.info/show.php?storyid=1930041|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218131833/http://stroitelstvo.info/show.php?storyid=1930041|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 February 2013|accessdate=3 January 2013|newspaper=stroitelstvo.info|date=22 October 2012|language=Bulgarian}}
Future openings
2025:
- 25px Boaza–Lovech ( Pleven), section 1 between Boaza–Dermantsi (16 km)
- 25px Sofia–Kalotina (Serbia), section 3 between Silvnitsa–Sofia (16 km)
- 25px Botevgrad–Mezdra, section 1 between Botevgrad–Skravena (2 km)
- 25px Botevgrad–Mezdra, section 3 between Novachene–Lyutidol (13 km)
- 25px Botevgrad–Mezdra, section 4 between Lyutidol–Mezdra (10 km)
2026:
Access to highway networks of neighbouring countries
=Greece=
{{See also|Highways in Greece}}
Struma motorway connects near Kulata with the Greek A25 motorway (Serres – Lagkadas – A2 Egnatia Odos). The route is part of the Pan-European Corridor IV.
Also an intersection on the Maritsa motorway is built near Svilengrad, to connect with the EO51 road in Greece.
=Romania=
{{See also|Highways in Romania}}
Botevgrad–Vidin, Veliko Tarnovo–Ruse and Shumen–Ruse expressways, all branching off from Hemus motorway are planned to connect with Romania. The Botevgrad-Vidin expressway is likely the first to be built. The Romanian PM Victor Ponta made a statement after the inauguration of New Europe Bridge that Romania plans to build a motorway between Craiova and Calafat.{{cite news|title=Premier Ponta: Motorway connection envisaged between Craiova and Calafat|url=http://www.agerpres.ro/english/index.php/english-news/item/203525-Premier-Ponta-Motorway-connection-envisaged-between-Craiova-and-Calafat.html|newspaper=agerpres.ro|date=14 June 2013|access-date=16 July 2013|archive-date=17 July 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130717082646/http://www.agerpres.ro/english/index.php/english-news/item/203525-Premier-Ponta-Motorway-connection-envisaged-between-Craiova-and-Calafat.html|url-status=dead}}
Also, in long terms, Cherno More motorway is planned to connect with the future Romanian A4 motorway to Constanţa (interchange with A2 motorway, leading to Bucharest).
=Turkey=
{{See also|List of motorways in Turkey}}
Maritsa motorway (A4) connects near Kapitan Andreevo with the Turkish O-3 motorway, heading to Istanbul.
=Serbia=
{{See also|Roads in Serbia#Motorways}}
A 31.5 km section of the Europe motorway from Sofia to Kalotina was tendered in 2012 and is expected to connect with the Serbian A4 motorway to Niš. The route is part of Pan-European Corridor X.
=North Macedonia=
{{See also|Motorways in North Macedonia}}
Dupnitsa-Kyustendil expressway branching off from Struma motorway is planned to connect with North Macedonia.
Gallery
File:Trakia highway near to Nova Zagora.jpg|Trakia motorway near Nova Zagora
File:Trayanovi-vrata-tunnel.JPG|Trakia motorway near Trayanovi Vrata tunnel
File:Maritsa mw 7km.jpg|Construction works on Martitsa motorway near Chirpan
File:Magistrala.liulin.ot.dragichevo2.jpg|Entering Struma motorway near Pernik
File:Struma highway heading north close to Sofia 20090407 006.JPG|Struma motorway near Pernik
See also
Notes
{{commons category|Highways in Bulgaria}}
{{Reflist|group=nb}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Motorways in Bulgaria}}
{{Roads in Europe}}
{{Motorways in Europe}}
Category:Geography of Bulgaria