The speed of movement in the facilities will be up to 80 km/h.
The major repair of the two tunnels in the pipes to Sofia will continue in the fall. Then some activities related to the ventilation system, power supply, adaptive lighting, traffic lights, controllable road signs, video surveillance, etc. will be completed in the pipes to Varna.
The temporary suspension of construction works now is to facilitate travel during the summer season and not to impede travel. The estimated deadline for the final completion of the major repair of the two tunnels is the summer of 2025. The construction and installation works started in November last year. “Warm Valley“ has been in operation since 1985, and “Praveshki Inns” since the end of the 90s of the last century and have not been fundamentally repaired until now.
"Warm Dol" tunnel is at the 39th km of the highway. The length of the pipe for Varna is 883 m, and in the direction of Sofia it is 878 m. The rehabilitation of the facility includes the construction of a new waterproofing and drainage system, lining and pavement blocks. Reconstruction of the roadway and portal sections of the tunnel is underway, as well as the expansion of the sidewalks in the tube to Varna. To increase safety, there are two pedestrian evacuation cross-connections between the pipes of the facility. The repaired pipe has an asphalt concrete pavement, the horizontal marking and the vertical signaling. The repair is carried out by “ORS - INFRASTRUCTURE“ Ltd. The contract is worth BGN 42,617,853.59 including VAT and the funds come from the API budget.
Tunnel “Praveshki Khans“ is at the 54th km of the "Hemus" highway and is about 1.8 km from the junction for Pravets. The length of the tube to Varna is 834 m, and the length of the tube to Sofia is 830 m. The two tunnel tubes will have a new lining, a modern drainage and waterproofing system and pavement blocks. Improvement of drainage is planned. The 7 cross ties connecting the two tubes of the tunnel are mainly being repaired, which will allow them to be used for emergency exits. The tunnel will have combined emergency niches with hydrants, SOS phones, fire extinguishers, etc. The repair is carried out by “GBS-Infrastructural construction“ AD. The contract is for BGN 47,756,186.84 including VAT and the funds are provided by the API budget.