Bulgaria's Road Infrastructure Agency said it endorsed on August 30 the construction and supervision contracts for Kurdjali-Podkova section of European route E-85, which is funded by the EU's Transport operational programme.

Construction works on the 34.1km road stretch will start on September 1. The road section was prioritised by the Cabinet on May 18. Of the entire length of the stretch, 26.6km is new construction and the remaining 7.5km is existing road that will be revamped.

Meanwhile, Pazardjik regional governor Doncho Baksanov said that the repair of the 25km Batak-Dospat road, part of the country's national road network, will start on August 31.

The 12.4 million leva project is being funded by the EU's Regional Development operational programme and the state budget. The road overhaul will last four months but the road will not be closed during the repair work.