Stanke Dimitrov Highway Strip

The primary reason for its closure as a military facility was the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact in 1991. This geopolitical shift rendered the military doctrine of using highway strips for dispersed air operations obsolete. The strategic threat scenario it was designed for no longer existed. This was compounded by the subsequent downsizing of the Bulgarian Air Force and the economic constraints of the post-communist era, which made maintaining such specialized, auxiliary military infrastructure unnecessary and financially unviable.

The site is currently an active and integral part of Bulgaria's national road network. It is a section of the I-1 road (E79), which runs parallel to the newer, adjacent A3 Struma motorway. While the long, straight layout is still evident, its specific military features have been removed or altered. Permanent central barriers, standard road signage, and other civilian traffic infrastructure have been installed, making it incompatible with aviation use. The strip now functions exclusively as a public highway for regular civilian and commercial vehicle traffic.

The Stanke Dimitrov Highway Strip was a key piece of Bulgarian military infrastructure during the Cold War. 'Stanke Dimitrov' is the former name (until 1992) of the nearby city of Dupnitsa. The strip was not a conventional airport but a purpose-built, reinforced, and exceptionally straight section of the main I-1 road (European route E79). Its function was to serve as an emergency/auxiliary runway for the Bulgarian Air Force, in line with Warsaw Pact doctrine. This strategy aimed to ensure air power survivability by dispersing aircraft away from major airbases, which were considered primary targets in a potential conflict with NATO. The strip was designed to handle tactical military aircraft such as the MiG-21, MiG-23, Su-22, and Su-25. Operations would have included landing, rapid refueling, re-arming, and takeoff. It was strategically located on the main north-south artery connecting Sofia with the Greek border, allowing for rapid deployment and support of ground forces.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the Stanke Dimitrov Highway Strip for aviation purposes. The likelihood of this happening is effectively zero for several reasons:
1. **No Military Requirement:** Modern military doctrine and capabilities have evolved, and there is no longer a strategic need for such facilities in Bulgaria.
2. **Infrastructure Conversion:** The road has been fully converted for civilian use with permanent installations (medians, lighting, signage) that would be costly and impractical to remove.
3. **Adjacent Obstacles:** The construction of the parallel A3 Struma motorway, often on elevated sections, creates a significant physical and airspace obstruction.
4. **Civilian Disruption:** The I-1 road is a vital national transport link. Closing it for aviation exercises or use would cause major disruption to civilian traffic.
5. **Prohibitive Cost:** The cost of restoring the strip to aviation standards and maintaining it would be substantial and without any strategic or economic justification.