New ring road eases congestion and reduces travel times in Bulgaria's capital city

prospective

The project involves transforming a section of the Western Arc of the Sofia Ring Road (SRR) into an urban motorway. The existing two lanes are being enlarged, while all level crossings with streets, boulevards, railway lines, and local roads are being eliminated. In addition, exits and entrances to adjacent local roads are being constructed.Tackling congestionThe road is approximately 8.5 km in length and has three lanes running in each direction. In addition, the 3.3 km urbanised section has two additional local lanes in each direction on a separate carriageway. These local lanes allow traffic to enter and exit the motorway easily and safely. Maximum speed on the new motorway is 80 km/h, and there is no emergency lane.Overall, five road junctions are being constructed as are two river bridges, two overpasses, an underpass, and three roundabouts.The project is part of an overall modernisation programme in the area and will help tackle congestion in Sofia, a city which attracts substantial traffic, and an important node on the trans-European transport network (the TEN-T Programme), corridors IV, VIII and X. The road serves the increased transit traffic coming to the capital from the south via the recently completed Lyulin motorway. Its importance is expected to increase after the completion of the Sofia Northern Speed Tangent, which connects the western and eastern sections of the SRR.Total investment and EU fundingTotal investment for the project “Construction on the Western Arc of the Sofia ring road in Bulgaria" is EUR 123 187 798, of which the EU’s Cohesion Fund is contributing EUR 87 097 513 from the Operational Programme “Transport” for the 2007 to 2013 programming period. Work falls under “Road infrastructure (TEN and national).”