Operational Programme on Transport and Transport Infrastructure 2014-2020

European Commission Approves Application Form for Trakiya Motorway Project

21 December 2010

On 21 December 2010 the European Commission approved the application for the project, Completion of Trakiya Motorway between Stara Zagora and Karnobat. The Commission decision is signed by Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn.

On 14 June 2010 the Managing Authority of OP Transport 2007-2013 approved the application form by which the Road Infrastructure Agency would apply for grant aid for the project on the completion of the Trakiya Motorway. The application form, along with the accompanying documents was sent to the European Commission for approval through the Central Coordinating Unit at the Council of Ministers.

In line with European requirements, big investment projects in the transport sector exceeding the value of 50 million EUR applying for financing under the EU funds are subject to assessment and approval by the European Commission.

The Commission gives the green light for the financing of projects of the value of 357,724,489 EUR, of which 286,179,591 EUR are provided under the EU Cohesion Fund.

The main project objectives are higher speed of motion (from 68 km/h to 105 km/h), reducing the time of traveling (47.6 min. on the average), reducing the number of accidents (5 times), reducing the number of road accidents (9 times less road accidents, 7 times less seriously injured persons) and reducing people's exposure to noise and air pollution.