[REVISION HISTORY]

Bulgarian road safety and procurement concerns

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-16 10:55 UTC → 2026-10-24 08:35 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Bulgarian authorities and safety advocates are addressing concerns regarding highway infrastructure and road safety equipment. Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov launched an investigation into a procurement scandal involving road safety barriers, describing the situation as an ‘exceptional scandal’ where companies allegedly prioritized fund diversion over public safety. The investigation focuses on whether companies used a ‘common cap’ to control the market and whether certified barriers underwent required crash tests. Recent developments have seen the government halt a road barrier procurement process valued at approximately 1 billion levs following reports of significant irregularities. Minister Shishkov noted that in three regions of Southern Bulgaria, contract values exceeded the legal 50% increase threshold. The controversy has intensified following a signal from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) party, which filed a complaint with the prosecutor’s office. The DPS alleges that a specific methodology used during the first caretaker government led to cost increases exceeding 160% and specifically identified the Plovdiv-based company Jupiter 05 Ltd. Additionally, government data suggests approximately 5 million levs in flight expenses for the DPS leader were covered by a company linked to road barrier contractors, though Shishkov dismissed these claims as attempts to protect damaged financial interests. To mitigate risks, the state-owned company Avtomagistrali is preparing to perform barrier replacements independently by purchasing its own machinery and staff. This follows warnings from the Institute for Road Safety regarding critical technical failures on the Hemus Motorway, where missing components in barrier systems were described as a ‘deadly trap’ for motorists. Newer allegations have emerged regarding the Struma Motorway near Simitli. The Road Safety Institute (IPB) has called for an immediate halt to a 107.9 million euro contract for a 2.7-kilometer section, labeling the cost of nearly 40 million euros per kilometer an ‘economic absurdity.’

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.