Along with countless reconstruction projects, construction and extension of streets and avenues, this year Sofia Municipality will work for improvement of the urban environment, again. The most important step in this direction is the completion of the new architectural design of the central Vitosha Bulevard and turning it into a pedestrian zone.
In 2012 and 2013 sections of the boulevard between P. Evtimij Str and Solunska Str. were reconstructed, and now the local governments will focus on the last part of the pedestrian zone, to Alabin Str. Last week Sofia announced a public tender for selection of contractor for construction works covering around 7,150 square metres. The deadline for submission of bids for participation in the competition is 24 April and the final date for completion of the project is December 19. The projected budget for the project is 2.25 million levs.
According to one od the tasks set in the tender, at the corner between the Vitosha Blvd and Karnigradska Str. a small piazzetta will be formed. A second square space will be created in front of the wedding hall Triadica. This place will also host a fountain, which for the Municipality has earmarked nearly 100,000 levs. Let’s just hope that the installation will not have anything to do with it is predecessor in the already repaired part of the Street.
Another interesting innovation will be a stationary retro tram, which is to be reminiscent of the old look of the city. It is envisaged to include installation of rails and an actual tram which will be used to set up the caf? „Old Tram“. Otherwise, the last zone of pedestrian Vitosha Blvd. will boast lush greenery, and will have 24 new rest areas.
Last week Sofia Municipality announced a competition for the renovation of the Ruski Pametnik square. Tender bids will be accepted until April 17 and the deadline for completion of the works is December 30.
It is envisaged that the work on the renovation of the roundabout and the supervision cost may come to nearly 4 million levs. The reconstruction will preserve the central circle where the park and the memorial is now, but around it there will be three lanes. Tram tracks will be separated from the roundabout. This all was planned to happen in the 1980s, but for various reasons the idea has remained unfulfilled. Pavement will be replaced by asphalt in a move to reduce the level of noise in the area. The project includes replacement of the nearly 100-year-old plumbing system, power cables and street lighting.
The documentation makes it clear that the existing vegetation will be fully preserved and a new hedge will be planted plus a separate area with benches and flowers. The project pledges to plant 38 new trees, mainly silver lime.
On March 24 the contract for the renovation of six subway passages under boulevard Bulgaria Blvd was signed which also includes the five under Botevgradsko Shosse Blvd. and that of Dragan Tsankov connecting neighborhoods Izgrev and Iztok. Interestingly, as contractor for these repairs has been selected the Pleven municipal company Ingstroy. For its services the company has requested 1,871,045 levs.
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