The construction of the Kresna bypass, which is to divert traffic to Greece from the city, is progressing. Three large bridges and two tunnels will be built along the route. It is expected to be completed within two years, BNT reported.
60 heavy-duty vehicles, specialized drilling equipment and over 170 workers are paving the new route. It is over four kilometers long and is part of the future lane of the "Struma" highway in the direction of Sofia. The pilot machines are located just before Kresna.
Momchil Aleksiev, Deputy Executive Director of the project contractor: "The new route of the highway starts from here - from E-79, crosses the Struma River twice, goes around Kresna in two tunnel facilities and continues towards the section from Kresna to Sandanski built in 2019. There are three large facilities along the route. Two bridges over the Struma River and one over the Vlahinska River. What you see in front of us is the first bridge over the Struma River."
The two tunnels "Kresna 1" and "Kresna 2" are about 600 meters long.
Momchil Aleksiev, Deputy Executive Director of the project contractor: "After the excavation of the portals and the reinforcement of the slopes is completed, we will move on to the actual excavation of the tunnels, which will probably last about a year."
To protect biodiversity, 22 small facilities will be built - culverts through which animals will pass.
Maria Yordanova, "Road Infrastructure" Agency: "At the end of the section, especially for the residents of the town of Kresna, a site will be built where commercial facilities can be built and placed. Parking spaces for over 50 heavy-duty vehicles and a significant number of light-duty vehicles have been designed."
The challenges facing the project include the difficult terrain, intense traffic and numerous environmental requirements. However, the contractor company promises to complete it within two years. However, the complete completion of the "Struma" highway through the Kresna Gorge does not have a clear horizon. The government's plan is for this to happen by 2031. The section from Krupnik to Kresna is at the design stage, and a conceptual design is yet to be prepared for the route from Sofia to Kulata.