A report prepared by the Road Safety Institute (RSI) states that the Asparuhov Bridge in Varna is in critical condition. At the beginning of the year, the mayor of the city, Mr. Ivan Portnich, was informed about the problems, but „there was absolutely no reaction from him.“
The Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) is also aware of the case. They claim that „the load-bearing structure, given its 44-year operation, is in good general condition.“ At the end of 2019, „experts from the Road and Bridge Institute at RIA have inspected the facility and the conclusion is that the structure of the facility is strong and safe to pass through it.„, wrote in a statement from RIA. However, the Agency’s report in question was not provided to the Road Safety Institute, although they have repeatedly insisted that it be read.
Thus, a few months later, the responsible institutions have not yet taken the necessary measures to address the deficits. The situation is becoming increasingly worrying as time only deepens the seriousness of the irregularities.
From Iskra.bg we asked for a comment from the Institute for Road Safety to find out whose responsibility it is and what risks running away from it hides.
„The problem has been going on for many years. At the beginning of 2021, we engaged a multidisciplinary team with international experts inclusive. They found that the maintenance of the bridge has been extremely sluggish over the years and this in itself has created preconditions for it to be heavily damaged and in need of very serious repairs. It is very possible that there will be a need to build a new bridge, as the price for the repairs may be quite close to the price for building a new facility.“, said Bogdan Milchev, Chairman of the RIA.
„The findings we have made are relevant to both drainage and safety systems. We are talking about guardrails, which are absolutely like matches. They are so corroded, so badly put together, that they just imitate that there is a guardrail placed there.“, Milchev explained.
According to him, the 13th column is in critical condition, and the crack increases by about 30 to 50 centimeters per month. The joint and bearing of the column must be replaced urgently.
All these urgent repairs are likely to hinder traffic for a long time, the expert predicts.
„The state and the municipality must immediately consider launching procedures for designing and building a new bridge to duplicate this one. This is the only connection between Varna and Burgas.“, Bogdan Milchev is adamant.
The facts and the photographic material prove the existence of a number of crisis points that cannot be ignored for a long time. We hope that the competent authorities will do their job before anyone is injured. History unequivocally shows that such a reaction, such as „shut the stable door after the horse has bolted“, is a systematic practice of the state. I hope we don’t turn out right this time too.
