A sum of 120 million leva has been granted to speed up the construction of the Maritsa, Trakiya, and Hemus highways and the southern arc of Sofia's ring road. The money comes from savings and surplus in the Bulgarian Government's 2008 Budget, government.bg announced on July 17 2008.

These roads are considered priorities in the country's transport network. “A better infrastructure will reduce people's transport costs and will increase traffic safety,” the website said.

The funds will go towards constructing the 25km of Trakiya Highway going from Stara Zagora to Karnobat; the putting into operation of the four km of Maritsa Highway from Svilengrand to Kapitan Andreevo; continued work on a 10km stretch of road from Lyubimets to Novo Selo, including the completion of a hydraulics study; finishing the Hemus Highway interchange at Kortina, along with the starting of construction of a 13km leg; and continued work on the southern arc of Sofia's ring road.

The money will also allow for the completion of an archaeological study along Trakiya and Maritsa highways and at the first-class road Kurdjali-Djebel-Podkova.

Owners of property in areas where such road construction and archaeological digs are to occur will be compensated by the Government.