The mayor of Kaloyanovo has threatened mass discontent and road blockades because the most used bridge is collapsing. The state promised to repair it, but did not give money for the repair.
The bridge is located on the main Plovdiv-Hisaria road. The facility has been in place since World War II. It is now depreciated and dangerous. The traffic on it is also extremely intense, and on weekends the traffic is twice as large because of the tourists who go to Hisarya and Starosel. On the eve of the Easter holidays, the mayor of Kaloyanovo threatened, together with the residents of nearby villages, to block the bridge until the state urgently repairs it.
Over 10 thousand people cross the bridge near Kaloyanovo every day. Stoyan Lukov is one of them. As a driver, he admits that he risks his life by moving along the concrete structure.
„It is absolutely impossible for two cars to pass each other, as the facility may not be able to accommodate them in practical terms. And that means one must always have stopped. Often times, people don't follow the road signs that show the right of way, and quite a lot of situations arise - disputes about the right of way, often minor accidents," says Stoyan.
Because of the narrow facility, serious accidents often happen on the bridge. People also die before Stoyan's eyes. “I witnessed the car crash. The gas system catches fire and three people lost their lives in this incident, it's a shame, it's ridiculous, he explains.
„People are definitely fed up, because this thing that happens on a daily basis is bordering on genocide for the people living in the territory of two municipalities. All settlements of the municipality of Hisar, as well as several settlements of the municipality of Kaloyanovo. Every day several times, who travels constantly, goes to work or goes home trembling, says Pavel Pavlov.
There is also a large track nearby, where car races are often held. “When we have big events related to the national championships, people from all over Bulgaria come here, it becomes a great crowd. The traffic jams go all the way to the beginning of Plovdiv"
The bridge and the road are part of the republican road network. The construction of the 80-year-old bridge facility has been compromised, explained the chief engineer of the Kaloyanovo municipality. “Of course he is dangerous. It can be seen. The bridge has never been repaired before. This bridge and the narrowness of the facility itself is very dangerous. Beams have collapsed, fittings are visible. There are bare foundations. It's dangerous!”, explained the chief engineer of the municipality of Kaloyanovo, Rangel Zlatanski.
There is no pedestrian zone on the bridge. The students who travel by train to Plovdiv and Karlovo walk along it. “Our railway station is located just after the bridge on the left, and the children who have to go home cross this bridge,” says the mayor of Kaloyanovo Municipality, Mladen Kichev.
For seven years, the local government has been in correspondence with the state to repair the bridge. The new mayor was happy when he saw on February 2 that the Agency “Road Infrastructure” officially announces the procedure for the reconstruction of the facility worth more than BGN 1.4 million. Only 20 days later, the procedure was terminated.
„They announced that the Plovdiv Agency „Road Infrastructure” she has no right and that Sofia should appoint her, but after Sofia was removed at 22 days, there are no 20 days after that they remove her, they no longer announce her, and this thing remains, and we don't know what is going on. Several times I tried to contact the “Road Infrastructure” Agency in Sofia. I didn't get a reply nor did they tell me what was going on. I went to a meeting once in Sofia. The director was gone. But I spoke to the deputy director. He said "We'll see, we'll check and let you know when it happens.'' I've called several times already. "Nobody picks up for me," says Kichev.
From the “Road Infrastructure” Agency answered: “The announced public procurement was terminated on February 8 by the decision of the Chairman of the Management Board of the “Road Infrastructure" Agency. The reason is that amendments to the Law on Public Procurement have entered into force. According to the legal requirements, the Regional Road Administration does not have the authority to issue a permit for the assignment of such repairs. By the end of the year, the Agency “Road Infrastructure” will announce a public order for the construction of a new bridge facility in the area of the village of Kaloyanovo”
The mayor states that people's patience has run out and there will be no more postponement. “We will necessarily close the bridge for Friday, Saturday and Sunday for four hours, if necessary we will stay until we have some decision on what will happen,” said the mayor of Kaloyanovo Municipality Mladen Kichev.
When asked if they will block everyone who travels to Hisarya and Starosel, the mayor answered: “Yes, so that people can understand that there is no way we can live in this situation in the 21st century. Maybe then Agency “Road Infrastructure” or someone else, will understand that it is time for them to come and solve the problem”, Kichev is convinced.