The construction of a two-level junction between the Bulgaria Blvd and the Ivan Geshov Blvd in Sofia will start in the beginning of 2013, according to Lyubomir Hristov, deputy mayor of Sofia in charge of transport.

Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, he corrected the end-2012 deadline for the completion of the project announced by Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova.

Hristov, as cited by Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA), specified that the project had a price tag of BGN 26 M and would be granted co-financing by the European Investment Bank (EIB).

He explained that the facility was expected to reduce the time necessary to cross the junction from the current 8-10 minutes to 1-1.30 minutes.

The Deputy Sofia Mayor noted that the project was to be wrapped up by end-2013.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) reported that people living near the junction insisted that the project had to be stopped to build a tunnel at the same place, thereby minimizing traffic noise.

BNR said that the Sofianites living near the junction threatened protests and road blocks unless the implementation of the project was stopped.

Hristov went on to explain Wednesday that the construction of a two-level junction at the Stoyan Mihaylovski Blvd and the Nikola Vaptsarov Blvd was also expected to start soon.

He noted that the two-level junction would be an extension of the facility at the TV tower on the Dragan Tsankov Blvd which was still under construction and would be opened in the fall.

Hristov made clear that the project was also scheduled for completion in end-2013.

He also added that the construction of a two-level junction between the Georgi Sofiyski Str and the Ivan Geshov Blvd was proceeding on schedule.

The Sofia Deputy Mayor said that a metro station would be built in the area as part of the third metro diameter in the capital.