2027: A Year of Massive Design Work and Almost No Completed Roads

2027 is shaping up to be primarily a year of design rather than the completion of infrastructure projects. The Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW) plans to begin or continue the design of approximately 1 300 km of highways and expressways; for 770 km of these strategic routes the goal is to reach a stage that allows for the selection of concessionaires. Preparations for some of the remaining routes will continue beyond 2027.

Against this backdrop specific expectations for completed construction next year are limited mainly to the Mezdra – Botevgrad road and individual sections in the Vidin area.

This became clear during a press conference on Friday at which Regional Minister Ivan Shishkov and Deputy Minister Pavleta Pelovska presented the ministry’s priorities for 2027. The two main focuses will be the preparation of new road projects and investments in water and sewer infrastructure.

Although the presentation focused on the ministry’s policy regarding next year’s state budget, the minister did not specify how much funding would be required for large-scale road design, nor what resources would be allocated for the construction and maintenance of national highways. They only made it clear that €47 million will be allocated for pre-investment studies for water and sewerage projects.

Regarding the specific amounts, however, the minister referred to the upcoming publication of the draft budget.

I do not understand finance, but I can say what we have planned.”

According to him the funds for design are relatively small compared to the investments needed for construction, and the main change lies in the approach to preparing infrastructure projects.

And the new aspect here is not the money.”

What then can actually be completed by 2027?

In response to a journalist’s question about which roads will actually be completed next year, Shishkov first mentioned the nearly 33 km section between Mezdra and Botevgrad.

Of course, we will complete the section from Botevgrad to Mezdra.”

The minister clarified that the goal is to complete construction by mid-2027. To that end the contractor has been mobilized, but efforts to resolve issues related to landslides and changes to the detailed zoning plans are ongoing.

We recall that during an inspection on October 5, 2023 Shishkov promised that the route would be completed within one year, or approximately by the fall of 2027.

The second project that the minister expects to be completed next year is the so-called “zero lot” of the Vidin–Botevgrad highway, between Vidin and the “Makresh” interchange. Construction there has been suspended due to the need to amend the detailed zoning plan, related to the construction of local lanes and the development of the municipality of Vidin.

Shishkov expressed hope that construction would also resume on another unfinished section along the Vidin – Montana route. However he did not make a firm commitment to its completion.

We recall that the ministry has already stated its intention to complete Lot 0 and another section by 2027 likely the one between Bela and Ruzhintsi.

For the remaining three sections between Ruzhintsi and Montana, where construction has been halted, negotiations regarding contractual relations with the contractors are ongoing. The minister again attributed the delay to issues surrounding in-house contracting.

No Specific Promise for a Completed Section of the “Hemus” Highway Next Year

Shishkov was significantly more cautious regarding the “Hemus” Highway. Despite persistent questions from journalists he did not name a single specific section that is guaranteed to be completed by 2027. The minister explained that the second lot is seriously behind schedule while construction has been suspended on other sections. According to him some of the difficulties are related to contracts with contractors and the need for changes to the project documentation.

We can complete what has reached a stage where it can be finished. Nothing more than that.”

Shishkov stated that the government will not sign addenda or contracts that serve solely the interests of the construction companies.

Sofia and Plovdiv Ring Roads: Possible Start of Construction

In addition to the future highways Shishkov also highlighted the two major unfinished ring roads – those in Sofia and Plovdiv.

For the missing approximately 8.5 km of the Sofia Ring Road a detailed development plan for the entire route has already been approved, but the procedures are at different stages. For the approximately 6 km section leading to the Struma Highway land expropriation is set to begin and RIA is preparing a request for proposals to award the design and construction contract through an engineering service.

Our ambition is within the next year not only to approve the project documentation but also to begin construction on this section.”

However this possibility depends on the land acquisition procedures and any potential appeals. Regarding the remaining approximately 2.5 km the minister warned that potential legal disputes could delay the project by about a year.

Here too the statement is not entirely new. As early as this summer the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW) had indicated that construction could begin no earlier than around mid-2027.

Regarding the Plovdiv Ring Road, Shishkov noted the possibility of completing the administrative preparations and beginning construction on approximately 2.6 km near the “Trakia” Highway. For the Southern Arc, however, the necessary project readiness – including the environmental impact assessment – is still lacking.

“Struma” Remains in the Design Phase

The Regional Minister also addressed the unfinished “Struma” Motorway. According to him the priority remains the design of approximately 28 km between Simitli and Kresna outside the Kresna Gorge, including the interchange for Bansko.

The ministry also intends to move forward with the project for the final approximately 2 km of the highway to the “Kulata” border crossing point, for which it will seek opportunities for European funding. Shishkov explained that for this section the government must also resolve an issue involving four structures which, in his words, constitute illegal construction and obstruct the planned widening of the road.

Regarding the controversial 2.7 km section near Simitli – for which the ministry recently signed a contract worth €93 million (excluding VAT) – the minister presented a timeline of changes in design decisions and contractual relationships over the past decade.

He stated that the estimated cost was determined following market consultations in 2025, before the current leadership took over the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works. Shishkov defended the decision to continue the procedures, justifying his position by citing the risk of further delays and claims for liquidated damages from the contractor.

The major irregularity is that the state has failed to do its job for 10 years.”

According to him approval has already been granted to develop a detailed zoning plan for the section, after which the process must move on to document approval and land expropriation procedures.

1 300 km of Roads in the Design Preparation Phase

A significant portion of the presented program is focused on future projects for which sufficient design readiness is still lacking.

According to Shishkov the government must begin designing a total of approximately 1 300 km of highways, expressways and four-lane roads. Of these approximately 770 km are designated as strategic and the goal is to advance their project preparation to the conceptual design stage, including detailed master plans and the necessary procedures to enable the search for private investors. It is precisely for this reason that concessions are expected after 2027.

A priority becomes a priority when it is scheduled to be designed. It does not become one simply because someone promises it.”

Among the main projects is the future Ruse–Makaza highway. The minister reviewed the 152 km route, noting that approval of a detailed zoning plan is expected next year for the section between the Byala bypass and Veliko Tarnovo (58 km), while for the remaining 94 km from Veliko Tarnovo to Makaza, the RIA is preparing to commission a conceptual design, a detailed zoning plan and environmental procedures.

The goal is to begin the search for a concessionaire once sufficient project readiness has been achieved.

A similar approach is planned for the Montana – Sofia expressway with a tunnel under Petrohan. The route is expected to be approximately 100 km long, and procedures for route selection and an environmental impact assessment (EIA) are currently underway. The goal for 2027 is to make progress on land-use planning and land acquisition procedures.

These timelines largely confirm what has already been announced.

Regarding the “Black Sea” Highway, the ministry is considering not only the 116 km Varna–Burgas section but also the extensions toward Durankulak and Malko Tarnovo. The intention is to combine the three sections into a single project, for which a public-private partnership will subsequently be sought. However environmental procedures for the terminal sections have not yet begun.

The program also includes the future “Rila” highway, with an approximate length of 108 km. Shishkov anticipates that project preparation will continue into 2028. Separately he noted that for the section from Dupnitsa to Gyueshevo (60 km), the goal is to make progress on the detailed zoning plan.

Plans are in place to begin design work on other major projects as well, including the four-lane connections from the “Trakia” and “Maritsa” highways to Lesovo, the Ruse – Shumen and Plovdiv – Smolyan expressways and the road between Montana and Vratsa, including the Vratsa bypass.

Regarding some of these projects the minister acknowledged that it is physically impossible to complete the design work by the end of 2027 alone.

About €47 million for the water and sewerage sector

The MRDPW’s other major priority for 2027 will be investments in water and sewerage infrastructure. The minister announced that 40 projects have been identified for design and construction, and his deputy, Pavleta Pelovska, indicated a planned budget of approximately €47 million.

The funds will be directed primarily toward pre-investment studies, the design of water supply pipelines and the preparation of investments in new water supply facilities. Pelovska justified this priority by citing the high water losses, which, according to data reported to the Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) for 2024, exceed 60% and reach over 90% in some localities.

Among the projects under consideration are the “Dospat – Vacha” water supply system, projects to secure water for Plovdiv and possibly Haskovo, the reconstruction of water mains in the Varna region and improvements to the water supply in Pleven.

The ministry is also exploring options for new reservoirs, and it has already signed three agreements for the repair of approximately 13 km of the “Stokite” water supply pipeline in Sevlievo. According to the deputy minister the investment amounts to nearly €7.5 million and should enable the complete renovation of the facility.

Pelovska stated that the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works (MRDPW) will also work to create an integrated database for water and sewer infrastructure, so that future investments can be determined based on specific indicators – the number of residents affected, reduction of water losses and improvement of water supply quality.

New Contracts for Road Maintenance

The maintenance of the national road network in 2027 also remains without a specific financial framework. Shishkov assured that funds for winter maintenance during the upcoming season have been secured, but acknowledged that a large portion of the current road maintenance contracts have already been fully funded.

Therefore in late 2026 and early 2027 new tender documents will need to be prepared and public procurement procedures conducted to select contractors. The minister emphasized that urgent repairs will continue.

Translated with DeepL.