site.btaMinister Shishkov: Hemus Motorway Construction Was Grounded in Spring Over Lack of Payments

Construction of the Hemus motorway was grounded in early spring over lack of payments. The last payment was made by the previous caretaker government at the end of November 2021, said caretaker Regional Development Minister Ivan Shishkov, quoted by his Ministry on Tuesday after an inspection of the first two remaining lots of the motorway.

Deputy Regional Development Minister Zahari Hristov and Road Infrastructure Agency head Ivo Ivanov also participated in the inspection.

Shishkov said that the inspection is carried out so that motorway sections with the necessary documentation can be built in the shortest time possible.

“We expected that Lot 1 from Boaza to Dermantsi will be at a more advanced stage of construction. Construction on Lot 2 between Drmantsi and Kalenik is at a very early stage. There is construction equipment but no workers. The contractors for the different lots are different although the state run Avtomagistrali is building the motorway on paper,” said Shishov. He added that he will ask for deadlines not to be extended.

“We will do our best not only to control ongoing construction of large infrastructure projects, but to plan new ones," said Shishkov. The road connections from North to South are practically undeveloped including in terms of design, he said.