Romanian Motorways Review - Q4 2014
29 December 2014. (c) 130km.ro.
In this text we review news and status of works on Romanian motorways for Q4 2014, as well as recap significant events of the current year.
Q4 was important for Romanian motorways as it recorded the only two segments opened for traffic this year (both on A1): segment III of Orastie - Sibiu in November (22.1km) and section I together with 6km of section II of Nadlac - Arad (28.2km) in December.
I. A1 MOTORWAY (Bucharest - Nadlac)
Bucharest - Pitesti: Open for traffic (opening dates in 1972, 2007).
Pitesti - Sibiu: After heated debate this section will be built as a motorway after it was initially planned as an express road. Works could start in 2017, and gradual opening could commence in 2018. A bid for a new feasibility study was launched in 2014.
Sibiu - Orastie: Even though works were not finalized, section III was opened for traffic on 14 November (22.1km); there was a lot of conflicting news published for this section in 2014, after it had been announced that the contract for this section will be canceled or that opening will be delayed until 2015; fortunately all issues were resolved and currently the entire segment Orastie - Sibiu (81.1km) is opened for traffic (sections I, II and IV were opened in Dec 2013).
Orastie - Deva: Open for traffic (opening dates in Dec 2012, May 2013).
Deva - Lugoj: . Some news on section IV was published, including preliminary works and foundations for some of the bridges and tunnels. On section II some changes to the original technical solution will be implemented. Opening date for sections II, III and IV, under construction, is May 2016 (section I was opened in Dec 2013).
Lugoj - Timisoara: Work on section II is almost 60% complete; the possibility of opening this section in 2014 was announced at some point, but this did not happen. Opening date for this section is July 2016 (section I opened in Oct 2012).
Timisoara - Arad: Open for traffic (opening dates in Dec 2011).
Arad - Nadlac: Good news for this segment: section I (22.2km) and 6km of section II were opened for traffic on 19 December. For the remaining 10km of Section II the opening date is June 2015.
II. A2 MOTORWAY (Bucharest - Constanta)
Open for traffic (opening dates in 1987, 2004, 2007, 2012).
III. A3 MOTORWAY (Bucharest - Bors)
Bucharest - Ploiesti: No major news for the 6.5km remaining under construction for this section (the contract for this section was canceled in 2014); opening date is estimated to be in 2015, but this depends on selecting a new contractor. 55.5km of this segment were opened in 2012.
Ploiesti - Brasov: Q4 did not bring any significant news on the signing of the contract for the Comarnic - Brasov section. The initial deadline for signing, in April 2014, was extended successively; currently there is no announced deadline. Authorities are already considering a failure of the Public-Private Partnership initiative for this section (and financing it with EU funds as an alternative). The Ploiesti - Comarnic section may be extended from a national road to a motorway, but there is not definite schedule for this. There are no contractors selected for any of this segment's sections.
Brasov - Targu Mures: No major news, except that works may be resumed next year. There are no contractors selected for any of this segment's sections.
Targu Mures - Gilau: Start of works may take place next year; a bid was announced for Ogra - Campia Turzii in 2014. Section Campia Turzii - Gilau was opened for traffic in 2009-2010.
Gilau - Bors: Start of works may take place in the future. No contractors were selected for any of this segment's sections, with the exception of 8.7km between Gilau and Nadasel (opening date in 2015).
IV. A4 Motorway (Constanta Bypass)
Open for traffic (opening dates in 2011-2012).
V. A6 Motorway (Lugoj - Calafat)
A stretch of 11km was opened for traffic in December 2013. No schedule or plans were announced for the remainder of this motorway.
VI. A10 Motorway (Sebes - Turda)
After lengthy contestation procedures, contracts for all four sections of this motorway were signed in 2014 and preliminary works were started. Opening dates are in 2016.
VII. OTHER MOTORWAY PROJECTS
There were discussions and debates for many other motoray projects in Romania, a General Transport Master Plan was published and some tenders for feasibility studies were launched in 2014. Nevertheless, there was no definite plan announced for any of these projects.
The only exception is some news on the Bacau Bypass project: contestation procedures were finalized with works expected to begin soon.
Find below an updated map of Romanian motorways and motorway projects at the end of 2014:
That's about it for now. The 130km.ro team wishes you Happy Holidays!
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