Highways in Bulgaria

The initial plan for construction of motorways dates back to 1973, when the government of Socialist Bulgaria approved a resolution to build a motorway ring, encompassing the country and consisting of three motorways – Trakia, Hemus and Cherno More. By the democratic changes in 1990, a total of 273 km of motorways had been built in Bulgaria. By 2007, the year of accession to the EU, this had increased to approximately 420 km with predominantly state funding. Sofia Northern Bypass motorway, an important thoroughfare north of Sofia, was inaugurated in 2015. ==List of highways==

Motorways Expressways == Other highway projects ==

In 2012, the Bulgarian government announced talks with Qatar to build a South–North motorway/expressway as a PPP from Svilengrad (by the border between Turkey and Greece ) to Ruse, at the Romanian border. The route is part of the Pan-European Corridor IX. In October 2012, a tender for a feasibility study was announced. == Future openings ==

2026: • Botevgrad – Mezdra - section 1 between Botevgrad and Skravena (2 km) • Botevgrad – Mezdra - section 3 between Novachene and Lyutidol (13 km) • Hemus motorway - section 3.2 between road LOV1054 and Pleven/Lovech (7 km) 2027: • Hemus motorway - section 4 between Pleven/Lovech and Letnitsa (28 km) • Struma motorway - section 3.2.2 - Kresna bypass (4 km) • Vidin – Montana motorway - section 1 between Vidin and Makresh (30 km) • Vidin – Montana motorway - section 3 between Bela and Ruzhintsi (11 km) 2028: • Hemus motorway - section 2 between Dermantsi and Kalenik (19 km) • Hemus motorway - section 5 between Letnitsa and Butovo (23 km) • Vidin – Montana motorway - section 4 between Ruzhintsi and Belotintsi (15 km) • Vidin – Montana motorway - section 5 between Belotintsi and Vinishte (12 km) • Vidin – Montana motorway - section 6 between Vinishte and Montana (14 km) • Ruse - Veliko Tarnovo motorway - section 2 - Byala bypass (35 km) 2029: • Hemus motorway - section 3.1 between Kalenik and road LOV1054 (10 km) • Hemus motorway - section 9 between Loznitsa and Buhovtsi (12 km) ==Access to highway networks of neighbouring countries==

Greece Struma motorway connects near Kulata with the Greek A25 motorway. The route is part of the Pan-European Corridor IV. Also an intersection on the Maritsa motorway is built near Svilengrad, to connect with the EO51 road in Greece. Romania Botevgrad–Vidin, Veliko Tarnovo–Ruse and Shumen–Ruse expressways, all branching off from Hemus motorway are planned to connect with Romania. The Botevgrad-Vidin expressway is likely the first to be built. The Romanian PM Victor Ponta made a statement after the inauguration of New Europe Bridge that Romania plans to build a motorway between Craiova and Calafat. Also, in long terms, Cherno More motorway is planned to connect with the future Romanian A4 motorway to Constanţa (interchange with A2 motorway, leading to Bucharest). Turkey Maritsa motorway (A4) connects near Kapitan Andreevo with the Turkish O-3 motorway, heading to Istanbul. Serbia Europe motorway (A6) connects with the Serbian A4 motorway to Niš. The route is part of Pan-European Corridor X. North Macedonia Dupnitsa-Kyustendil expressway branching off from Struma motorway is planned to connect with North Macedonia. ==Gallery==

File:Trakia highway near to Nova Zagora.jpg|Trakia motorway near Nova Zagora File:Trayanovi-vrata-tunnel.JPG|Trakia motorway near Trayanovi Vrata tunnel File:Maritsa mw 7km.jpg|Construction works on Maritsa motorway near Chirpan File:Magistrala.liulin.ot.dragichevo2.jpg|Entering Struma motorway near Pernik File:Struma highway heading north close to Sofia 20090407 006.JPG|Struma motorway near Pernik ==See also==