- The construction of a road tunnel under the Shipka Peak crossing the Balkan mountain range has not yet begun due to the need for a complete project redesign.
- Financing for the project remains uncertain, with the current estimated cost of 358 million levs expected to increase.
- The tunnel is a critical infrastructure project, essential for improving the connection between northern and southern Bulgaria.
After years of delay, there is renewed optimism that construction of the Shipka Tunnel might finally begin this year. However, significant hurdles remain, including the need for a complete project redesign and uncertain financing. The project's estimated cost is 358 million levs (179 million euros), with expectations of further increases.
The Shipka Tunnel is vital for providing a fast road connection between northern and southern Bulgaria divided by the Balkan mountain range. It has the potential to halve travel time between the region of Gabrovo in the north and Stara Zagora in the south. Despite its importance, the project has been plagued by delays and setbacks. Although a construction contract was signed in 2022, the design phase has stalled due to numerous procedural errors.
Delays and redesigns
The PSVT consortium selected for the tunnel's design and construction, comprising major construction companies such as Hidrostroy (owned by Veliko Zhelev) and Patni Stroezhi - Veliko Tarnovo (owned by Grigor Ivanov), has faced significant challenges. The project has been delayed for nearly two years due to documentation issues, land expropriations, and other oversights. Most recently, the caretaker government led by ?? reported that the existing designs do not comply with current standards, necessitating further redesigns and additional expropriation procedures.
Financing in question
The idea to have a road tunnel under the Shipka Peak has existed for over a century, with the first plans for its construction proposed in 1975. Although the project was included in the National Regional Development Plan for 2000-2006, potential funding sources, such as Japanese banks and the European Union, have not turned up. The Bulgarian government has yet to secure EU funding for the tunnel project, and only 132,000 levs have been paid for design work as of September 2022. Inflation and rising costs have further complicated the project, and contract values may need to be indexed to reflect these changes.
While the Shipka Tunnel remains a critical infrastructure project for Bulgaria, its future is uncertain. The delays, redesign requirements, and financing challenges make it unclear when the tunnel might come into existence. For now, it remains more of a wish than a viable project.
- The construction of a road tunnel under the Shipka Peak crossing the Balkan mountain range has not yet begun due to the need for a complete project redesign.
- Financing for the project remains uncertain, with the current estimated cost of 358 million levs expected to increase.
- The tunnel is a critical infrastructure project, essential for improving the connection between northern and southern Bulgaria.
After years of delay, there is renewed optimism that construction of the Shipka Tunnel might finally begin this year. However, significant hurdles remain, including the need for a complete project redesign and uncertain financing. The project's estimated cost is 358 million levs (179 million euros), with expectations of further increases.
