THE BULGARIAN ROAD NETWORK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004400150007-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 28, 2007
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: June 25, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

This Document contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794. of the U.B. Code. as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form U prohibited.
SF7CPr/CPNTROL - U.S. CFFICIAIS ONLY
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT The Bulgarian Road Network
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. The mountainous nature of the Bulgarian terrain, characterized principally by a
mountain chain located northwest of the capital and branching off into three im-
portant ranges, has determined the general alignment of the regular communications
routes. These mountain chains are as followst
a. The Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina), oriented toward the east;
b. The Rhodope chain, which extends in a southeastern direction; and
c. The Rila and Pirin Mountains, which project toward the south.
2. The framework of the road system is as followst
a. Three arteries running east-west, from Sofia across the countrys
Sofia-Ikhtiman-lostenets-Plovdiv-Lbaskovo-Kharmanlii-Svilengrad-Turkish
border. This road, continuing northwest to the Yugoslav border, joins
Sofia with Slivnitsa and Dragoman, and is, in its entirety, Bulgaria's
section of the International highway.
(2) Sofia-Pirdop-Karlovo (now Levskigrad)-Kazanluk-Sliven-Aytos-Burgas.
(3:) Sofia-Botevgrad-Lovech-Turnovo-Omurtag-Shumen (now Kolarovgrad)-Varna
(now Stalin).
b. Two arteries running north-south (respectively crossing the above-mentioned
arteries), cutting across the whole width of the countryt
(1) Lom-Ferdinand (now Mikhaylovgrad)-Sofia-Dupnitsa (now Stanke Dimitrov)-
Gorna Dzhumaya (now Blagoevgrad)-Kulata-Greek border.
(2) Ruse-Byala-Turnovo-Gabrovo-Kazanluk-Stara Zagora-Kbaskovo-Kirdzhali-
Greek border.
STATE X I ARMY 2 NAVY I Z AIR X FBI AEC on Z
 3. From these principal highways, representing those roads herein described as 1st
class and having an average roadway width of approximately six meters, other
roads secondary in importance to the preceding ones cut off from these major
highways. These roads vary in width from four to five meters and link together
the major Bulgarian towns.
4. Various roads traverse the mountainous areas, sometimes reaching high elevations.
Among these, the following are noted as "trunk roads:"
a. Iskiu-Belitsa, which reaches an elevation of 1,950 meters;
b. Troyan-Eamare, which reaches an elevation of 1,648 meters;
c. Gabrovo-Sazanluk (forming part of the principal Ruse-Hurdzhali route), which
reaches an elevation of 1,329 meters;
d. Tvurditsa-Elena, a 3rd class road, which reaches an elevation of 1,9112 meters;
bifurcating at Elena,jrnimg the Sofia-Burgas road with the Sofia-Varna road
at Turnovo and Dzhulyunitsa; and
e. Turnovo-Gurkoro, which reaches an elevation of 682 meters and, like the pre-
ceding trunk, joins the Sofia-Burgas and the Sofia-Varna roads.
a. For 1st class roads or principal highways and 2nd and 3rd class roads:
Asphalt (only a few), cobblestones, rolled gravel, or cement; and
b. For 4th class roads: Almost all have natural surfaces.
6. The map enclosed herewith as an Appendix, pages 3s 4s 5s 6, 7, 8, 9s and 10, shows
the entire Bulgarian road network.
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To
Constants
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APPENDIX (Continued) nlC.m
Sea
BULGARIAN ROAD NETWORK
lst class road. - Cement, cobblestones, aspha..ty omt
or
Principal h M. r . d gavel.
--lass road. - Cants. nobblsstones' asphalts, or
rolled gravel.
-- - - -- Uth class road-Dirt~ surfaoe.
Under constracttvn or being restored.
6 Width of roadway, in metes.
%.sl329 Pass, elevation in meters.
SCALE ca 1g8O0,OOCC MARCH 1954