Danube Bridge 2 linking Bulgaria’s Vidin with Kalafat in Romania has generated revenue of EUR 43 M since opening for road and rail traffic in the middle of June 2013, Bulgarian Transport Minister Ivaylo Moskovski has said.
Nearly 1.8 milllion vehicles have crossed the Danube in both directions between July 2013 and the beginning of May 2016, Moskovski said in a written reply to a question asked by a member of parliament.
Nearly 90% of revenue from tolls was generated by trucks, with the remainder coming from passenger cars and light commercial vehicles.
Moskovski also said that charges for using the bridge wouldn’t be cut in view of the need to repay bank loans used to finance its construction.
Revenue from tolls is split between Bulgaria and Romania proportionately to the investment which each country has made in the construction of the bridge and adjacent infrastructure.
Bulgaria has so far invested EUR 287 M versus Romania’s EUR 83.5 M, Moskovski said.
Bulgaria expects to fully recover its investment by 2031 if the charges for using the bridge remain at their current levels, Moskovski added.
It is impossible to cut tolls for motor vehicles registered in Bulgaria’s Vidin Region and Dolj County, in which the respective ends of the bridge lie, because preferential rates will be equivalent to illicit state aid under EU rules, Moskovski explained in his answer.
Crossing the bridge in one direction costs EUR 6 for passenger cars and light trucks of up to 3.5 tonnes. Tolls for heavier trucks start at EUR 12 and reach EUR 37 depending on the vehicles’ total maximum permissible weight, while buses pay EUR 25.
