Ministry of Transport, Information Technology and Communications

The most difficult of the three sections of Struma highway constructed so far is among the projects that make Operational Program "Transport" very successful in terms of fund absorption, said the Minister of Transport, Information Technology and Communications Ivaylo Moskovski during the official opening of the section from Dupnitsa to Blagoevgrad. The route is extremely difficult to implement, as some 41 large facilities and 2 tunnels have been built along it.

Bulgaria already gives a good example for the management of resources from operational programs, added Minister Moskovski. He thanked the contractors who completed the construction activities within the deadline and proved that Bulgarian companies can operate effectively and efficiently.

In his words, yet the biggest challenge is to come - the construction of Lot 3 of "Struma" highway in the region of Kresna Gorge. "We will make every effort in the coming years to complete this section", said Minister Ivaylo Moskovski.

The event was attended by the President of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev, the Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Lilyana Pavlova, the Minister of Health Petar Moskov, the Governor of Blagoevgrad Bisser Mihailov, the Governor of Kyustendil Victor Yanev, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Road Infrastructure" Agency Lazar Lazarov, representatives of central and local government, and other officials.

“Struma" highway project, Lot 1, Lot 2 and Lot 4 is co-financed by the Cohesion Fund of the European Union under Operational Program "Transport". The total length of the constructed sections is nearly 69 km and the awarded grants amount to nearly 540 million lev.