API: The repair of the Danube Bridge-Ruse must start as soon as possible

The main repair of the Danube Bridge near Ruse must start as soon as possible as the facility is in poor condition and should not be delayed any longer. Now is the construction season and the work should start as soon as possible without stopping the traffic.

The chairman of the Management Board of the Agency “Road Infrastructure“ Eng. Yordan Valchev and Eng. Ventsislav Atanasov, member of the Board of API, Ruse Municipality Mayor Pencho Milkov, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Dimitar Nedyalkov, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Kiril Gaberov, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs from traffic and border police, the repair contractor and construction supervision, etc.

At the meeting, the contractor of the site emphasized that he is ready to start work on the site and the repair works will be carried out without stopping the traffic, as the traffic will be regulated by a traffic light. It will be worked daily for 10-12 hours a day, during the daylight hours. The size and height of the facility does not allow safe operation at night. However, if the implementation of some construction activities requires a complete stop of traffic, then the restriction will be introduced at night so as not to hinder travel.

The work process will be organized and carried out in such a way that vehicles pass in both directions in the lane where no construction work is being carried out. The safety of commuters and site builders is paramount and any change in traffic arrangements will be notified to citizens in a timely manner so that they can plan their journey.

The Chairman of the API Board, Eng. Yordan Valchev, indicated that a traffic analysis is being done in order to make an optimal decision on the start of construction works and the readiness to start them in July.

The API program provides for the major repair of the Danube bridge. Since the facility was put into operation 70 years ago, no such operation has been carried out until now. More than 22 years ago, the joints were reinforced, and in 2011, the waterproofing and the asphalt pavement were replaced. The technical project for the repair of the facility provides for a complete replacement of the asphalt pavement, the panels, waterproofing, new restriction systems, markings, etc. The contractor for the main repair of the Danube Bridge is the "Danube Bridge" public utility company. Its value is BGN 44,877,228.68 including VAT.

The term of execution of the construction works under the contract is 730 days. Construction supervision will be carried out by the "Danube Bridge-PII-Strol" DZZD. The value of their contract is BGN 848,400 including VAT and it is yet to be signed.