Lot 4 of Struma Motorway between the Bulgarian town of Sandanski and the border checkpoint Kulata should be completed until July 31 within the framework of the available budget.

This is foreseen by the annex to the construction contract signed between Bulgaria's Road Infrastructure Agency (API) and the Greek company Aktor on 23 December 2014, electronic daily Dnevnik reports.

This was announced by Bulgaria's Minister of Regional Development Lilyana Pavlova during parliamentary control on Friday.

At present only 56 % of the works on the site have been completed.

The early launch of one of the motorway lanes is foreseen until the other one is completed.

This will be done in order to divert traffic from the small inhabited places and minimise heavy road accidents.

Pavlova noted that the third-class roads, which are used at present as diversions, are not anticipated to withstand the traffic committed by heavy vehicles.

The Minister said that following the launch of the motorway, the necessary repair works will be carried out on the tertiary roads.

Due to the delay in the construction, the caretaker government of Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki intended on cancelling the contract with the construction firm.

However this would have necessitated the announcement of a new public procurement procedure.

After an auction Aktor was chosen for the construction of the 15-kilometre lot with an offer of BGN 55.98 million.

The company has postponed the launch on several occasions due to delayed land alienation procedures and infrastructure problems.

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