In February 2015, the government announced plans to build Veliko Tarnovo–Ruse motorway, that will supersede I-5.

[3] The heavyweight freight traffic uses another road through the Pass of the Republic to cross the mountain.

The road leaves the Balkan Mountains at Shipka and then passes through the centre of Kazanlak.

South of Dimitrovgrad, road I-5 will make connection with Maritsa motorway (A4), which shall provide fast and comfortable access to Turkey, at Kapitan Andreevo border checkpoint.

[4] A new 24 km section of road I-5 between Kardzhali and the village of Podkova opened to traffic in February 2014, providing safer and faster access to Makaza border crossing to Greece.