The Bulgarian Government has unveiled a list of priority road infrastructure projects that it says will require an investment of €9bn between 2014 and 2020.

Among the projects identified priority status are the Strouma Highway section in the Kresna Gorge and the Hemous Highway from Sofia to Veliko Turnovo, as well as four-laning of the stretch from Veliko Turnovo to Shoumen.

The projects also include the highway from Sofia to Kalotina, the highway connecting Varna and Bourgas, and the high-speed roads Vidin-Botevgrad, Rousse-Veliko Turnovo and Veliko Turnovo-Makaza, according to the Sofia Echo.

The priority road projects are part of the Trans-European Transport Network, in which the European Union (EU) plans to invest €500bn by 2030.

The EU will cover 80% cost of the construction of the priority projects in Bulgaria.

Construction work on the priority road projects is expected to commence by 2020.