Headline: Sofia Mayor Addresses Mount Vitosha Road Maintenance, Winter Preparedness
The Sofia Municipality has implemented changes to the way it maintains roads leading to Mount Vitosha, with noticeable results already visible. Mayor Vasil Terziev recently took to Facebook to discuss these updates, expressing disappointment in the state’s lack of involvement.
Terziev clarified the roles of the municipality and the state, stating, "The natural park and forest fund are state-owned. In Mount Vitosha National Park, the municipal forest fund covers only the villages of Gnezhitsa and Bistritsa. The municipality has the right and responsibility to clean roads used by public transport and some access paths to chalets."
He emphasized that maintaining and removing dangerous trees is primarily the responsibility of the State Forestry Agency – Sofia, in coordination with other state institutions. Recent incidents, such as a blocked road during the opening of the ski season due to heavy snowfall and inadequate equipment from the cleaning company, have necessitated urgent action.
In response, Terziev announced plans to initiate meetings with relevant state institutions to ensure everyone fulfills their responsibilities and minimizes risks on Mount Vitosha. He also revealed that the municipality has increased the requirements for the winter cleaning company, mandating better equipment suited for mountainous winter conditions and more frequent sand processing. Starting this winter, the two roads leading to Mount Vitosha will be closed to vehicles at night to allow the cleaning company to operate undisturbed.
To ensure smooth coordination, Terziev shared that the municipality has established close communication and signal processing between the police, traffic police, transport, environmental protection, ski schools, and chalets. He also appealed to visitors, reminding them to use vehicles suitable for winter conditions and equipped with winter tires and chains. He encouraged the use of public transport to reduce traffic congestion and ease the task of cleaning and public transport.
Looking ahead, Terziev expressed his commitment to improving current access and developing a comprehensive vision for Mount Vitosha’s accessibility. He plans to share this vision at the beginning of next year and emphasized the need for collaboration between all institutions to achieve this goal by 2025.