"I want to apologize to the residents of the area between Bosna and Vizitsa for the delayed repairs. The responsibility is shared - by the RIA and the contractor, but there were poor conditions and that is why the repairs were delayed. We are assured that the repairs will be completed in September. We have the contractor's assurance. If not - the penalty is 20% of the contract price", said engineer Yordan Valchev - chairman of the RIA Board of Directors in "The Day Begins".
"After Siyana's death, we immediately took measures in all sections where there are concentrations of road accidents. Regarding my requested resignation, I was understanding of the citizens that they wanted something to change. And that's why we took internal measures to speed up the work."
It was easier for me to leave, but "after talking to all my colleagues, this would have slowed down the whole work."
"API took responsibility to do the work that it can on this project."
The road is not in excellent condition at the moment, but work will begin on this section by the end of the year.
We are holding talks with Siyana's father and we are on good terms, he said.
The fallen trees on the road are some kind of coincidence, he said. He added that they cannot monitor every tree. But before the summer season, a mandatory inspection is carried out and the places where bushes and trees should be removed are determined.
"API's main priority in spring, summer and autumn is to clean the roads from vegetation. Every month, an assignment is made, which the company carries out. They have one month to carry out these activities".
Repairs are carried out when a moment is chosen when it can be started and when there is project readiness.
"This year we chose to start after the main holidays - Easter and St. George's Day, so as not to burden traffic".
We cannot start repairs in the winter because the conditions do not allow this. There were problems on the highway not because of repairs, but because of accidents, said the head of RIA.
In "Praveshki Han" and "Topli Dol" traffic is already carried out in both directions. Since the installation of the traffic lights on the section of the road between Ruse and Byala, road injuries have decreased dramatically, the head of the RIA said.
In the Kresna region, after the installation of the traffic light, traffic is much smoother and there are not as many traffic jams, he pointed out.
"On the "Trakia" highway, driving is much calmer due to the expectation that the average speed will come into effect. Additionally, on Sunday we stopped heavy traffic so that people can get home faster from the sea".
The speed cameras are at different distances, he said - from 5 to 15 kilometers, depending on the junctions and sections.
The RIA budget is not sufficient, but it is spent on purpose. Currently, it is 2.5 billion and goes mainly for repairs and new highways. When asked if money for repairs is currently being stolen, the head of the RIA said:
"I can't say. In my opinion, no. There's just so much we can do with so much money".
"Just as everyone understands football, everyone understands roads. I'm on the side that people should drive more carefully and think things through".
When asked if he himself was driving and driving through potholes "who curses", the head of the RIA did not answer.