Highways inBulgaria aredual carriageways,grade separated withcontrolled-access, designed for high speeds. In 2012, legislation amendments defined two types of highways:motorways (Bulgarian:Aвтомагистрала,Avtomagistrala) andexpressways (Bulgarian:Скоростен път,Skorosten pat). The main differences are that motorways have an alternative route and the maximum allowedspeed limit is 140 km/h (87 mph),[1] while expressways do not and the speed limit is 120 km/h (75 mph).[2] As of November 2025, a total of 911 kilometers of motorways are in service.
Generally, there are notoll roads in Bulgaria, and instead avignette is required, except formunicipal roads. Two bridges −New Europe Bridge andDanube Bridge are tolled, both atDanube border crossings toRomania. However, introduction of toll system to replace the vignettes is under way as being a more fair form of payment.[3] In April 2016 the road agency launched a tender for implementation of anelectronic toll collection system for vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes[4] and the contract was signed in January 2018.[5] Since January 2019, the electronic vignette is in charge instead of the sticker. Later, a toll system for vehicles over 3,5 tons got introduced.
The initial plan for construction of motorways dates back to 1973, when the government ofSocialist Bulgaria approved a resolution to build a motorway ring, encompassing the country and consisting of three motorways – Trakia, Hemus and Cherno More.[6] By thedemocratic changes in 1990, a total of 273 km of motorways had been built in Bulgaria.[7] By 2007, the year of accession to the EU, this had increased to approximately 420 km with predominantly state funding.[7] TheEU accession of the country in 2007, and the in recent years improved utilization of the allocatedEU funds enabled Bulgaria to speed up the expansion of its highway network. As of December 2018, 800 km (497 mi) of motorways are in service, with another 38 km (24 mi) being under various stages of construction.
The first fully completed motorway wasLyulin motorway, then designated A6, a short 19 km stretch connecting Sofia with Pernik and further merging withStruma motorway (A3) that continues to Greece at Kulata border crossing, opened in 2011. However, in 2018, the government decided to merge Lyulin motorway into Struma motorway as both are forming an interrupted route from Sofia to Greece.
After 40 years of construction, the first large motorway, spanning 360 km,Trakia (A1) was inaugurated on 15 July 2013, thus connecting the capitalSofia andBurgas, at theBlack Sea coast.[8] Two years later, on 29 October 2015, the last remaining section ofMaritsa motorway (A4), branching off from A1 nearby Chirpan and connecting with the border of Turkey at Kapitan Andreevo checkpoint, entered in service.[9]Sofia Northern Bypass motorway, an important thoroughfare north of Sofia, was inaugurated in 2015.
| Expressway | From | Route | To | Planned | In service | % | Under construction | Tender | Estimated completion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Montana-Botevgrad expressway | Montana | Vratsa,Lyutidol,Skravena | Botevgrad | 72 km | 12 km | 16,6% | 37 km | − | 2030[21] |
| Shumen-Ruse | Shumen, | Razgrad | Ruse,Danube Bridge; | 110 km | − | − | − | − | − |
| Montana-Sofia | Montana | Barzia,Kostinbrod | Sofia | 82 km | |||||
| Total | 231 km | 12 km | 5,53% | 37 km |
In 2012, the Bulgarian government announced talks withQatar to build a South–North motorway/expressway as aPPP fromSvilengrad (by theborder between Turkey and Greece ) toRuse, at theRomanian border. The route is part of thePan-European Corridor IX. In October 2012, a tender for a feasibility study was announced.[28]
2026:
Botevgrad – Mezdra - section 1 between Botevgrad and Skravena (2 km) Botevgrad – Mezdra - section 3 between Novachene and Lyutidol (13 km)
Hemus motorway - section 3.2 between road LOV1054 and Pleven/Lovech (7 km)2027:
Hemus motorway - section 4 between Pleven/Lovech and Letnitsa (28 km)
Struma motorway - section 3.2.2 - Kresna bypass (4 km)2028:
Hemus motorway - section 2 between Dermantsi and Kalenik (19 km) Hemus motorway - section 3.1 between Kalenik and road LOV1054 (10 km) Hemus motorway - section 5 between Letnitsa and Butovo (23 km)Struma motorway connects nearKulata with the GreekA25 motorway (Serres –Lagkadas –A2 Egnatia Odos). The route is part of thePan-European Corridor IV.
Also an intersection on theMaritsa motorway is built nearSvilengrad, to connect with theEO51 road in Greece.
Botevgrad–Vidin,Veliko Tarnovo–Ruse andShumen–Ruse expressways, all branching off from Hemus motorway are planned to connect with Romania. TheBotevgrad-Vidin expressway is likely the first to be built. The Romanian PMVictor Ponta made a statement after the inauguration ofNew Europe Bridge that Romania plans to build a motorway betweenCraiova andCalafat.[29]
Also, in long terms,Cherno More motorway is planned to connect with the future RomanianA4 motorway toConstanţa (interchange withA2 motorway, leading toBucharest).
Maritsa motorway (A4) connects nearKapitan Andreevo with the TurkishO-3 motorway, heading toIstanbul.
Europe motorway (A6) connects with the Serbian A4 motorway toNiš. The route is part ofPan-European Corridor X.
Dupnitsa-Kyustendil expressway branching off fromStruma motorway is planned to connect with North Macedonia.
