The Chairman of the Management Board of the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA), Todor Anastassov, stated that the landslide that damaged a section of the Smolyan–Pamporovo road on May 1 was not covered by the existing monitoring system. Anastassov explained that the lack of visible external signs prior to the incident was the reason, noting that early warning systems are currently installed only at predetermined locations. Following the incident, which destroyed over 60 meters of the Smolyan-Pamporovo road, Smolyan Mayor Nikolay Melemov declared a state of emergency.
During a press conference, caretaker Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Nikolay Naydenov, presented a new public portal detailing RIA contracts. Based on the data, the Minister reported that the specific landslide site was not included under a stabilization contract signed on October 23, 2019, between the RIA and “Avtomagistrali.”
The data review highlighted low implementation rates for landslide stabilization projects across the national road network, showing that out of over 88 potential sites, only three projects had been completed. While the Minister characterized the Smolyan–Pamporovo incident as a major event, he confirmed that while the landslide remains active, there is currently no direct risk to local populations or infrastructure.
Expert investigation suggests strong water saturation, rainfall, or seepage from a nearby reservoir are contributing factors. Naydenov outlined a multi-stage recovery plan: comprehensive surveys are anticipated to take at least one month, followed by a minimum of three months for design work, with actual construction potentially lasting
Topics: #road #smolyan #pamporovo
