Romanian Motorways Review in Q2 2018

29 June 2018. (c) 130km.ro.

The second quarter of 2018 did not bring any noteworthy news about Romanian motorways. All projects are progressing slowly and are perpetually delayed. No motorway segments were opened in the April - June period. Find below the status of motorways opened to traffic or under construction in Romania.

I. A1 MOTORWAY (Bucharest - Nadlac)

Bucharest - Pitesti: Entire length opened to traffic. Pitesti - Sibiu: Tenders still in progress for end-sections 1 and 5 (Sibiu - Boita and Pitesti - Curtea de Arges), despinte being launched in 2017; new tenders were launched recently for the remaining sections. The estimated opening date is 2022-2033. Sibiu ringroad is opened to traffic (17.2km). Sections Sibiu - Orastie and Orastie - Deva are open to trafic.

As for Deva - Lugoj, segment 1 (Traian Vuia - Sanovita) and 15km of segment 2 (Margina - Traian Vuia) are open to traffic. Contract was canceled for the a part of segment, which means a new tender is required; as no plans have been announced for this tender, the earliest opening date is 2021-2022. Section 3 is close to being completed but disagreements between the contractor and CNAIR will probably delay the opening date until next year.

Works are progressing on section 4, which could be opened this year. Sections Lugoj - Timisoara, Timisoara - Arad and Arad - Nadlac are all open to traffic.

II. A3 MOTORWAY (Bucharest - Bors)

Bucharest - Ploiesti: 55.5km of this section are open to traffic. The remaining 6.5km are scheduled to be opened this year, but this project may be delayed as well. Ploiesti - Brasov: winner announced for tender on Rasnov-Cristian, a 6.3km stretch on Comarnic-Brasov, but works have not started yet due to formalities that need to be completed. No significant developments on this route and no news on Ploiesti - Comarnic either.

Brasov - Targu Mures: This section was dropped from official plans, with access to Transylvania replaced by A10 Sebes - Turda, currently under construction. Targu Mures - Gilau: 52km on this section are open to traffic, while contracts are in place for the remaining 56.5 km; some sections could be opened in 2018, with the rest scheduled for 2019, but no definite opening schedule is available yet.

Gilau - Bors: Works completed on Gilau - Nadaselu (9km), but opening is not possible due to lack of access bridge, currently under construction (opening date in 2018). Contract for section Nadaselu - Mihaiesti was canceled in 2017. New tenders for the three sections of segment Suplacu de Barcau - Bors launched at the beginning of 2018, with contractor selected recently for two of them. Tenders for section Mihaiesti - Suplacu de Barcau could be launched in Q3.

III. A10 MOTORWAY (Sebes - Turda)

Sections 3 (Aiud - Decea) and 4 (Decea - Turda) are completed, but CNAIR si delaying their opening after requesting repairs and additional works. Opening should take place in 2018. Work in progress on sections 1 (Sebes - Paraul Iovului) and 2 (Paraul Iovului - Aiud), with opening estimated in 2019 (section 1 could be opened in 2018 according to some reports).

IV. OTHER PROJECTS

Motorways A2: Bucharest - Constanta and A4: Constanta Ringroad are completed with entire length open to traffic. Additionally, 11km between Balint and Lugoj ringroad are opened on the proposed A6 Lugoj - Calafat motorway and 3.5km between Arad and DN7 are opened on the proposed A11 Arad - Oradea motorway.

A new tender for Bacau ringroad motorway was launched at the beginning of 2018, with tender procedures in progress. Contractors selected for three sections of the Southern part of the new Bucharest Ringroad but no contracts have been signed yet.

130km.ro