The construction of over 70 km of new motorways will be completed in 2006, Bulgarian regional development minister Asen Gagauzov said at a public discussion on the future of domestic road construction held in Sofia yesterday.
The roads that will become usable next year include the Karnobat - Bourgas and Orizovo - Stara Zagora stretches of the Trakia motorway and 10-15 km of the Maritsa motorway linking Orizovo with Kapitan Andreevo in the direction of Turkey, said Gagauzov.

The construction of the Maritsa motorway suffered substantial delays after Sofia and Ankara fell out over the participation in the project of financially troubled Turkish company Ceylan.
A shortage of cash has also delayed work on the Struma motorway which will link Sofia and the Kulata checkpoint on the border with Greece.

Over 30,000 km of roads are in need of rehabilitation and reconstruction with 60% of all roads due for urgent upgrades, the participants in the discussion were told.
Experts attending the discussion advised local construction companies to team up if they want to successfully pursue international infrastructure tenders.