Eco Road Drainage for Safe Journeys on “Hemus”, Bulgaria’s Longest Highway
April 26th, 2021 | 3 min read
Once finalized, Hemus highway will connect Bulgaria’s capital Sofia with the country’s sea capital Varna. With a planned length of about 420 km, it will be the longest highway of the country connecting the east and west of Bulgaria to the trans-European network. Approximately half of the highway is however still under construction, and Pipelife Bulgaria is busy ensuring road safety with the supply of reliable, ecologically friendly road drainage systems.
Hemus Highway – A Strategic Infrastructure Project
Safety and Prolonged Service with Efficient Road Drainage
By the end of 2020, approximately half of the highway has been realized. Another approximately 220 km are still to be implemented and along with the construction of every new road section comes the necessity for reliable stormwater drainage infrastructure.
Stormwater drainage systems are an essential part of road structure. They keep road surfaces dry and therefore maximize service life while minimizing road maintenance works. Cracks and potholes from water and frost damage are not only costly to repair, they are a serious safety hazard especially for vehicles.
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Trusted Partner in Large-Scale Road Drainage Projects
It comes as no surprise that Pipelife’s road drainage systems have their place in the construction of Hemus Highway. Pipelife’s piping systems for sewage and stormwater drainage applications have proven their worth to contractors and investors in numerous drainage projects in the past.
The corrugated pipe range “Pragma”, for instance, has in some countries become the equivalent of reliable road drainage. Ease of installation, simple handling and durability combined with know-how and service from the team have made them a preferred choice in large-scale infrastructure drainage projects also in Bulgaria.
Client Prefers One-Stop-Shop Suppliers
The most recent order for a road drainage solution was made for a 3-km-long new Hemus section, placed by the contractor Avtomagistrali EAD. Apart from the proven track record, a further reason for the state-owned contractor to partner up with Pipelife Bulgaria is know-how-based service combined with a comprehensive product program.
To the contractor Avtomagistrali, it was important to be able to rely on equal high quality throughout the complete system and in regard to service and support from inception phase to completion.
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50 Fully Equipped Rain Gullies Provide Time and Cost Efficiency
From a total of about 3 kilometers of pipe, through 50 customized manholes to another 50 stormwater gullies, Avtomagistrali received everything from one source.
The fact that Pipelife delivers rain gullies customized to specifications including covers and grids, frames, adjustable risers, outlets, leaf traps and additional sizes, is a true time saver regarding planning, coordinating and installation. The extra comfort is not only appreciated by contractors in larger infrastructure projects but also by smaller private investors, where cost efficiency plays an even larger role.
Recycled Pipes for Environmental Sustainability
Comparing CO2 footprints, plastic solutions score by generating 3 to 4 times less CO2 emissions compared to other pipe materials. ECOCorr Pipes, one of Pipelife Bulgaria’s latest developments add the benefit of being produced with 100% recycled polyethylene (PE).
“We are glad that private investors but also contractors like Avtomagistrali EAD are increasingly opting for environmentally friendly solutions such as ECOCorr. Sustainability means a great deal to us. By creating products with less CO2, by incorporating recycled materials and by making our products recyclable or reusable, we support our clients in their efforts in being environmentally sustainable”, says Petko Grancharov, Sales Manager Pipelife Bulgaria.