Controlled-access highway

Heavy traffic is expected across Bulgaria on Sunday as the long weekend, which began on Thursday with the celebration of the country's national holiday (Liberation Day), is coming to an end.

According to estimates, a total of 330 000 Bulgarians left their homes to spend the holiday period somewhere else.

In an article published in The Guardian on Wednesday, Arthur Neslen, focuses on the construction of the Struma motorway in southwestern Bulgaria which is potentially threatening the wildlife in the Kresna gorge.

Bulgaria has terminated the process for the selection of a contractor for the construction of part of Hemus motorway due to lack of EU funding, the Regional Development Ministry said on Monday afternoon.

Farmers protesting against the government’s proposed plan for social security reforms escalate their protests actions and despite the bad weather they decide to continue blocking the roads.

On Friday they decided to close the motorway at Tempi Valley for 24 hours on Saturday, as they toughen their stance towards the government.

The 2015 vignette stickers for vehicles are no longer valid in Bulgaria as of Monday, February 01, authorities say.

Vignette stickers are mandatory for drivers using Bulgaria's motorways. They can be puchased from gas stations, post offices, retail chains, border crossings, and elsewhere.

Bulgaria's national weather service has issued yellow code alert for the country's entire territory over a potential risk of ice on the roads and strong winds along the Black Sea coast on Sunday.

The yellow code alert is the lowest degree of potentially hazardous weather on the three-degree scale of the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH).

Abundant snowfall and heavy traffic are expected across Bulgaria on Sunday as the worsening of the weather conditions will coincide with the last day of the festive period when many people will be returning from their holidays.

A yellow code for snowfall has been issued for all regions of Bulgaria on Sunday, with forecasts predicting the formation of snow cover.

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov estimated that BGN 5 B will be needed for the completion of two of the country's main motorways - Hemus and Struma as well as section of the I-1 (E-79 European route) in the country's northwest.

Borisov said this on Tuesday at the official opening ceremony of the by-pass around the town of Montana.

Traffic police estimates that more than 200 000 vehicles will leave the Bulgarian capital of Sofia on Wednesday and Thursday as the great travel for the forthcoming holidays begins.

The head of the Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Agency (API), Lazar Lazarov, assured on Tuesday that no roads in the country will be closed during the forthcoming holiday period.

Lazarov added that all repair works, which have been carried out on the Trakia and Hemus motorways during the summer and autumn, have been completed and the renovated sections have been opened.