We will find a lasting and comprehensive solution for the construction of Tunnel 2 near Vakarel. The geological surprises are a reality and the challenges are considerable. However, they are also foreseeable when all possible risks during construction are taken into account in the preparation and procurement of such a complex infrastructure project. This was stated by Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Peev during an inspection of the Elin Pelin – Kostenets railway section. He stressed the need for a comprehensive approach and sustainable engineering solutions to ensure the successful completion of the project.Tunnel 2 is located in the most difficult mountainous section between Elin Pelin and Vakarel, and its construction began in the summer of 2021. It is a twin-bore tunnel with a total design length of approximately 13.2 km. The facility is therefore designed to be among the longest railway tunnels in Bulgaria. “The difficulties encountered in the tunnel are numerous and varied, and advancing at a rate of 1.5 metres per day is far from being a sustainable long-term solution. The material I can see being excavated is extremely unstable – in practice, it is clay. This demonstrates once again that when projects are not developed comprehensively and without the necessary geological and archaeological investigations, the surprises can be considerable,” Minister Peev said.
He emphasised that partial solutions were not acceptable. “We need to find a lasting solution because even if just 1 km remains unfinished, the entire tunnel will not be functional. We cannot work piecemeal and pay price adjustments for individual sections unless we are certain that the entire tunnel will be constructed properly and within a reasonable timeframe,” Georgi Peev stressed.
The Minister of Transport and Communications announced that additional measurements and analyses would be carried out. “Our intention is to bring in the best-qualified experts in Bulgaria, particularly in tunnel construction, so that we can carry out the best possible analysis and find a balanced solution.”
The inspection of Tunnel 2 forms part of the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ programme to accelerate key infrastructure projects and ensure their safety, sustainability and timely completion.
