Major repairs are coming to the fatal section where 12-year-old Siyana died. This was announced in an exclusive interview on the program “Offensive with Lyubo Ognyanov” on NOVA NEWS by the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Ivanov.
Repair activities will begin after the completion of the procedure for selecting contractors, the minister assured. He explained that emergency repairs were made to certain sections last summer. According to him, there were no major repairs to the republican road network last year because no contractors.
„I want to express my sincere condolences to the family of the deceased child, because this is an indescribable tragedy. The release of the leadership of the Regional Road Administration in Pleven is the least I can do. At least, so that they do not hinder the inspection that I have ordered. All these facts and circumstances of why, who and how acted and inaction will be clear from the results”, explained Ivanov. In his words, the causes of the tragedy are rooted much deeper and further. According to him, they are due to the political timelessness that happened.
„Unfortunately, and by the will of the Bulgarian citizens in one way or another. Because of their vote, many serious infrastructure projects were blocked. If "Hemus" had been built, if the Botevgrad - Mezdra road had been put into operation, this heavy traffic would not have passed there. Because all the trucks pass precisely on this road to avoid the construction in the direction of Vidin, explained Ivanov.
The minister pointed out that it is normal for every asphalt to have its depreciation. According to him, after the results are released, the people who did not react will bear the consequences.
“I will announce them at the beginning of next week. I gave an extremely short deadline for this inspection”, said Minister Ivanov.
He emphasized that the inspection he ordered is not only in the Regional Road Administration in Pleven, but also in the RIA.
”There will be an examination of roads and bridges. At the same time, the prosecutor's office is carrying out its inspections and will show the actual condition of the road and whether it contributed to this extremely unpleasant incident”, the minister also said.
Ivanov stated that the MRDPW will fully cooperate with the prosecutor's office in order to establish the actual situation.
„It was a mystery to me why a 70 km/h speed limit sign was put up. My initial orders were for it to be 60 km/h. I assume that someone either misunderstood me or misunderstood me and will suffer the consequences”, said Minister Ivanov.
According to him, whether the original 60 km/h will be restored depends on the Ministry of Interior, because they determine in the relevant sections what the limit should be.
„I want the truth to be revealed. No one will allow themselves to manipulate the studies that were done on the spot. The initial information that has reached us is that the geometry of the road is quite critical, because the road was built decades ago," the minister also said.
Will the minister request the resignation of the chairman of the RIA Management Board?
„So far, I have not allowed myself to fire anyone. There was an initial conversation with the employees and they were told that if they fulfill their commitments, their jobs are secure. For the last 4 years, staff turnover and the change of ministers have blocked the work of the institutions to such an extent. I spoke with Mr. Valchev. He and the other two members of the management board have been sent all over the country. Yesterday, I issued an order to inspect all sections where there are more accidents. Over the past two months, they have been working at full speed. To date, they are fulfilling their duties. "If the investigation shows, regardless of who it is, that someone is responsible for the tragedy - whether through action or inaction, I will be uncompromising. Such mistakes are not forgiven," explained Ivan Ivanov.