On 14 September 2026, the construction of the Rudozem Bypass Road was successfully completed with the signing of Act 15 certifying the readiness of the works for acceptance. The subproject, entitled “Upgrading of Road II-86 Rudozem Bypass Project, including Road Structure at km 134+380”, was implemented under the INTERREG VI-A Greece-Bulgaria 2021-2027 Programme.
The project involved the reconstruction of existing urban streets and the construction of a new 2.4 km bypass section forming part of Road II-86 (Srednogortsi-Rudozem). The new route diverts transit traffic away from the town centre, significantly improving road safety, reducing congestion, and facilitating access to the future Rudozem-Xanthi border crossing. It also strengthens the municipality’s connection with the regional centre of Smolyan.
The bypass follows both existing and newly constructed alignments, crossing the Chepinska River before connecting to the Srednogortsi-Rudozem road. The new road section includes two 3.75 m traffic lanes, pedestrian sidewalks, retaining and reinforcement structures, a new roundabout, the rehabilitation of the bridge over the Arda River, and the construction of a new bridge over the Chepinska River. The project also included the relocation of utility networks, reconstruction of water supply and sewerage infrastructure, and stabilisation works in landslide-prone areas.
Construction works were carried out by ISA 2000 EOOD under a contract valued at €4.74 million (including VAT), complemented by an additional agreement worth €2.28 million (including VAT).
An integral part of the bypass is the reinforced concrete structure located at km 134+388, constructed under a separate design-and-build contract. The 200 m-long engineering structure incorporates prefabricated concrete blocks and geogrid reinforcement to ensure slope stability, while a reinforced concrete riverbank protection wall safeguards the Chepinska River against erosion and flooding. These works were completed by ORS-Infrastructura EOOD under a contract valued at €3.06 million (including VAT).
The completion of the Rudozem Bypass represents a major milestone for regional connectivity and cross-border mobility, delivering safer, more efficient transport infrastructure for residents, businesses, and travellers in the border region.
The issuance of Act 16 and the Permit for Use for the entire bypass is expected as the final administrative step before the full commissioning of the infrastructure.
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