The asphalt and the fences in the first section of the Danube Bridge repair at Ruse have been removed
The main repairs started a week ago and the works are being carried out without stopping traffic
The asphalt has been removed and the restrictive fences have been dismantled in the first section of the main reconstruction of the Danube Bridge at Ruse, which started on 10 July. The construction works started in a section of about 200 m long in the entrance lane to Bulgaria. Traffic is restricted and the exit lane in the direction of Romania is closed. The leveling concrete is currently being removed to reach the panels.
Construction activities are being carried out without traffic stoppages and the facility will not be closed. The site will be operated daily for 10-12 hours per day, during daylight hours. The work process will be organised and carried out so that vehicles will pass in a staggered two-way manner in the lane not being worked in. Currently, traffic is regulated by signal officers and border police and the traffic flow is synchronized between the border authorities of Bulgaria and Romania.
During the overhaul of the facility, the maximum permissible width of passing vehicles is 2.75 m and the total mass is up to 60 tonnes. Oversized vehicles do not pass
The route on the Bulgarian territory of the Danube Bridge, which will be renovated in the next two years, has a total length of 1,057 km. Since its commissioning 70 years ago, in 1954, no major repairs have been carried out. Joint strengthening was done more than 22 years ago and the waterproofing and asphalt pavement was replaced in 2011. The technical design for the renovation of the facility provides for the complete replacement of the asphalt layers, panels, waterproofing, new restraint systems, markings, etc.
The Road Infrastructure Agency apologizes to the drivers and the citizens of the city of Ruse, through whose territory the transit traffic for the Danube Bridge passes, for the inconvenience caused. We understand that the construction works and the change in the traffic organisation will cause inconvenience to both citizens and drivers, but undertaking the works is necessary to ensure safe travel on the bridge between Ruse and Giurgiu in the coming years.
In order to improve safety, the RIA works in constant coordination and close cooperation with the Border Police, the Customs Agency, the Automobile Administration Agency, the Ruse Municipality and the Ruse Regional Administration. The appeal to the drivers and residents of Ruse is to show understanding and patience, to drive carefully, at a reasonable speed, to strictly observe the traffic signals and not to undertake risky overtaking, which could endanger the safety and lives of all travelers.
Up-to-date information about the temporary traffic organisation and the repair works can be found in the special section "Information on the Danube Bridge repair" on the website of the Road Infrastructure Agency. The Agency team will provide regular updates on facility repairs and is available for additional questions and clarifications. This is the only way to ensure accurate, precise and correct information to all travellers.