The actual works on the repair of the Danube Bridge have started

With the first sod, the long-awaited repair of the Danube bridge officially started. The construction work will take place without stopping traffic and the key transport link will not be closed. The official event in the buffer zone of the "Danube Bridge" border crossing point (BCP) today was attended by regional governor Dragomir Draganov, minister of regional development and public works Violeta Koritarova, deputy minister Dimitar Nedyalkov, engineer Georgi Kichukov, member of the Administrative of "Glavbolgarstroy Holding", Deputy Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of "GBS - Infrastructure Construction" AD, the Mayor of Ruse Pencho Milkov and representatives of the embassies of Bulgaria and Romania.

The activities on the modernization of the Danube Bridge will be carried out by the Consortium DZZD "Danube Bridge", which includes "GBS - Infrastructure Construction" JSC and "Road Engineering" JSC. The leading participation in the union with 90% is the specialist in building road and water infrastructure "GBS - Infrastrukturno svetvo" JSC, part of the holding group of "Glavbolgarstroy". The remaining 10% in the association is the participation of "Road Engineering" AD, which is also committed to the implementation of construction and assembly works on the site.

"Danube Bridge" is a key transport artery that not only connects Bulgaria and Romania, but is part of cross-border transport corridor No. 9 and plays a decisive role for European connectivity. The major renovation that we are launching today is of urgent necessity, which must and will be carried out with high professionalism and responsibility. This was stated by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Eng. Violeta Koritarova during the event.

The builders have the assurance of the Road Infrastructure Agency that the work process will be organized in such a way that the vehicles will pass in two directions in one of the traffic lanes. It is planned that the construction works will be carried out in 6 stages, the first two of which include the main repair of the overpass of the facility on Bulgarian territory. For the implementation of the activities, a section with a length of about 400 meters will be closed. First, traffic will be restricted in the lane for entering Bulgaria, and then for exiting in the direction of Romania. The estimated period for the implementation of the repair works in this section is about 4 and a half months. There, each of the lanes will be renewed, and traffic will be carried out in the other.

In order to have a better synchronization between all responsible institutions related to the repair and traffic on the bridge, regular joint meetings will continue during construction. Information will also be provided to all travelers in a timely manner if there is a need to change the work schedule or if activities are to be carried out that require the closure of the entire bridge.

For better organization of traffic, traffic regulation will be carried out with an adaptive traffic light system. It will be able to be moved and placed in the relevant part of the bridge that is being repaired, the API states. The size and height of the facility does not allow safe work at night, and the protection of life and health of travelers and construction workers on the site is of the utmost importance. If the execution of some activities can be carried out safely during the dark part of the day, it will be done, it became clear today after the ceremony to start the activities.

The route on the Bulgarian territory of the Danube Bridge, which is part of the I-2 road, has a total length of 1,057 km. Since its commissioning 70 years ago - in 1954, no major repairs have been carried out. More than 22 years ago, the joints were reinforced, and in 2011, the waterproofing and the asphalt pavement were replaced. The technical project for the repair of the facility provides for a complete replacement of the asphalt layers, the panels, waterproofing, new restriction systems, markings, etc. The contractor for the main repair of the Danube Bridge is the "Danube Bridge" public transport company. The term of execution of the construction works under the contract is 730 days.