Tomorrow, July 16, Opalchenska Street will be opened to traffic in the section between Todor Aleksandrov and Slivnitsa Boulevards. Public transport routes will be restored: three trolleybus lines 1, 5, 7, 11 and two bus lines 60 and 74.
Opalchenska Street in the section from Slivnitsa Boulevard to Todor Aleksandrov Boulevard has been completely reconstructed. Two roadways with 2 lanes in each direction, bus lanes, and new sidewalks have been built. Energy-saving street lighting has been installed.
We have implemented the project for the reconstruction of Opalchenska Street, upgrading and improving its various parts in order to provide an important route for Sofia from the first city ring road, connecting the western and northern districts with the center of the capital. Along with the new lanes, bus lanes, lighting, landscaping and road safety measures, we have renovated nearly 100-year-old engineering infrastructure, necessary for the entire region, said Deputy Mayor for Construction Nikola Lyutov.
The tram track has been reconstructed at the intersection with Pirotska Street, as well as the trolleybus contact cable network along the entire length of the section. A strategically important large-capacity sewage collector has been built, necessary for the entire region. A new 363 m long drainage channel and a 588 m long sewage system have been completed, which provide domestic and storm sewerage. A water supply system has been reconstructed. The bridge structure over the river “Vladayska“ has also been repaired.
The street facilitates the transport service of a number of public and residential areas in the “Vazrazhdane“ area, as well as four schools 134. Secondary School “Dimcho Debelyanov“, 18. Secondary School “William Gladstone“, National High School for Applied Arts “St. Luke“, NPGPTO “M. V. Lomonosov“. The street connects with public transport, including with stations of the Sofia metro.
Road safety measures. The following have been implemented:
White road markings and designated areas for reconstruction before the intersections;
Anti-slip coating with a signal red color at the intersection with St. St. Kiril and Methodius Street for increased driver attention and increased pedestrian safety;
The traffic light systems at all major intersections have been reconstructed, including a new traffic light system on St. St. Kiril and Methodius Street;
Traffic control cameras have been installed in the bus lanes.
The permanent organization of traffic on Opalchenska Street in the section of Todor Aleksandrov Blvd. to “Slivnitsa“ Blvd., introduced after the reconstruction, was coordinated by the Traffic Police – Traffic Police under the State Directorate of Internal Affairs. It was introduced after updated project documentation, which was coordinated with all necessary institutions and is in accordance with the recommendations given to improve road safety by the State Agency “Road Traffic Safety“.
On the newly renovated section of the street, recommendations given by the State Agency have been implemented in accordance with the change in the regulatory order with Ordinance No. RD-02-21-1 of 23.11.2023 on signaling roads with road signs (SG, issue 101 of 05.12.2023, enters into force on 05.08.2024).
Two bus lanes in the direction of mass urban transport are regulated. The new BUS lanes will speed up and facilitate public transport, and car traffic will be in two lanes in each direction. This is the profile of all boulevards from the First City Ring, including the "Opalchenska" itself in the section from "Ruski Pametnik" Square to "Princess Maria Luiza" Blvd.
According to the recommendations of the State Agency "Road Traffic Safety" in the parking and waiting areas before intersections, the marking is filled with white. According to the provisions of Regulation 2, the road lane is for right-hand and straight-ahead traffic, and in the parking area it is separated by a marking - a warning line in white.
At the intersection of "Opalchenska" St. and "Sv.sv. Kiril and Metodiy“, where a pedestrian crossing is planned, in order to increase traffic safety, an anti-slip coating (with a signal red color) has been installed. It increases the grip of the road and reduces the braking distance of cars before the stop lane at the intersection. This measure has been implemented in accordance with the recommendations of the Traffic Police - Traffic Police at the State Directorate of Internal Affairs.
An accessible environment has been built:
Tactile guide strips have been installed for people with impaired vision;
Tactile strips in the “stop lines“ mode have been installed at public transport stops;
Traffic lights are equipped with sound signaling.
In the areas of public transport stops, tactile stripes in the “stop lines“ mode for blind people are installed on the sidewalks, indicating increased attention. These elements in the pavement of the sidewalk differ significantly from the tactile stripe for movement in the direction. The leading stripe in a certain direction has parallel elements, not “stop buttons“. The stripe marked with a “stop button“ means that there is a need to board a public transport vehicle or cross an intersection.
A sound signaling of the traffic light systems is also provided to assist people with reduced vision.
A park development project has been implemented, and 52 maple trees with a trunk circumference of 16-18 cm have been planted. A watering bag and a moisture-retaining net have been installed on each tree. In order to provide a green barrier between pedestrian areas and road traffic, shrub vegetation has been planted in the areas of planting beds and designated afforestation areas.