On 11 December 2017, a symbolic sod-turning and water-blessing ceremony launched the rehabilitation of another 22.2-km road section in Petrohan Pass. The section is part of Road II-81 Kostinbrod – Buchin Pass. Geostroy AD is the Leader of Roads 2016 – 1st Stage Consortium which is the contractor of this project. The other members of the consortium are Patstroy-92 AD, Roads and Equipment EAD and Dimas AD.

The official sod-turning event was attended by M.Eng. Doncho Atanasov - Chairman of the Management Board of Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA), M.Eng. Veselin Davidov - Member of the Management Board of RIA, Mr. Ilian Todorov - Sofia Regional Governor, Mr. Trayko Mladenov - Mayor of Kostinbrod, M.Eng. Vladimir Vutov - Executive Director of Geostroy AD, and other contractor’s representatives and construction supervisors.

‘After 15 months, the residents of Kostinbrod, Godech and Berkovitsa Municipalities will be travelling on renewed public transport infrastructure. I guarantee that at the end of 2018 the project will bring new life to this region and we will enjoy using modern and reliable road infrastructure,’ said M.Eng. Doncho Atanasov.

The Road II-81 Sofia – Petrohan – Lom was built in 1970 and since then it has been the major connection between Northwest and Southwest Bulgaria along the ridge of Stara Planina Mountain. This second class road is the most direct link for the residents of Montana and Vidin Regions with Sofia, Danube Bridge 2, the Port of Lom, and Varshets Balneological Resort.

The route, which will be generally reconstructed, starts from the town of Kostinbrod, runs through it and the village of Buchin Pass, and reaches the road junction towards the town of Godech. 2 bridges will be renovated – over the River Blato and the River Buchino, as well as 13 road junctions. Road drainage will be provided through the construction of new ditches with concrete lining, concrete curbs and catch drains. The implementation of the project will improve the quality of the entire road section, thus increasing traffic safety.

The road section will be equipped with new road restraint systems, horizontal road markings and traffic signs. The time for completing construction works is 15 months.