Monthly Road Infrastructure Digest (EN)

[north]

May 2016: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

June 2016: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

July 2016: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

August 2016: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

September 2016: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

October 2016: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

November 2016: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

December 2016: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

January 2017: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

February 2017: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads

March 2017: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses

April 2017: Motorways: plans and projects  *  A1 Bucharest - Nădlac  *  A3 Bucharest - Borș  *  A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret  *  A10 Sebeș - Turda  *  National roads  *  Bypasses


List of abbreviations: (asp) = and subsequent posts (warns that the direct link is only to the first post in a series; mostly used for relevant posts not necessarily in a consecutive arrangement, i.e. series likely interrupted by other posts); An = motorway n; DN n = national road n; DXn = Expressway n (basically a motorway without hard shoulders and with reduced lane width; none exists yet); FS = feasibility study; GTMP = General Transport Masterplan; LIOP = Large Infrastructure Operational Programme 2014 – 2020; NCARI = National Company for the Administration of Road Infrastructure; PIA = Pro Infrastructure Association, the NGO associated with this forum; RNCMNR = Romanian National Company for Motorways and National Roads.

Note: In Fall 2016 the RNCMNR was reorganised into NCARI (dealing with administration and maintenance of national roads) and NCRI (National Company for Road Investments, dealing with project preparation and implementation for constructing national roads). Since the latter is not yet functional, NCARI is de facto fulfilling its roles at the moment.

[north]

May 2016 * Motorways: plans and projects

05/04  It appears that there is some slow progress for the Sibiu - Făgăraș motorway feasibility study (western part of A13) (contract signed in April 2015).
05/05  Discussions around some press articles showing no success with attracting financing from the European Commission's Investment Plan for Europe (the "Juncker Plan") (article 1, article 2), as well as problems and delays regarding the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme (LIOP) 2014 - 2020 (article 3).
05/30  The Ministry of European Funds has launched a financing call for the LIOP 2014 - 2020 for road, rail and subway infrastructure projects (total allocation is 5.8 billion Euro, of which 3.27 billion Euro for roads - eligible applicant being the RNCMNR only), with applications accepted in the period June 1, 2016 - December 31, 2018.

[north]

May 2016 * A1 Bucharest - Nădlac

05/01 Clarifications regarding wildlife crossings on Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3.
05/02 Construction pics and video from Ohaba (Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3).
05/08 Inventory of problems to be solved regarding the Lugoj - Deva motorway such that this project can better progress.
05/08 Construction pics from around the Grind interchange (Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3).
05/10 Data from the official RNCMNR May report regarding the status of the Lugoj - Deva motorway.
05/10 Comments on major technical risks regarding Lugoj - Deva motorway section 4.
05/13 Pictures from the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway section 3. No progress regarding reopening of the motorway; terrain slides are actually getting worse.
05/14 RNCMNR general director visits the Lugoj - Deva motorway construction site. "Ultimatum" given to the contractor on section 2 to ramp up works.
05/15 Construction pics taken from a train (Lugoj - Deva motorway section 4). Further post shows the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway section 3 - currently closed to traffic.
05/15 Construction pics mostly from around Grind interchange (Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3).
05/16 Ample set of construction pics (starts here) from Lugoj - Deva motorway sections 2, 3 and 4.
05/18 The very first set of pics showing on-site proof of ongoing geotechnical studies for the Sibiu - Boița section part of the Sibiu - Pitești motorway.
05/18 Realistic proposal for a calendar for the construction of the end sections ("the easy ones", Sibiu - Boița and Curtea de Argeș - Pitești) of the Sibiu - Pitești motorway.
05/20 Construction pics from Șoimuș (Lugoj - Deva motorway section 4).
05/20 Ample set of pics showing the current status of the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway section 3 (closed to traffic) - focused on the many technical / in situ problems.
05/22 Construction pics from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 4.
05/24 Construction videos from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3.
05/25 RNCMNR appears to be making some progress (video) regarding the "reconstruction" of troubled subsections from the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway section 3 (closed to traffic), followed by press release describing ongoing government efforts in this direction.
05/28 Construction pics from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 2, as well as section 3.
05/30 Construction video from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 2.
05/30 Comments regarding the status of the construction works on Lugoj - Deva motorway section 2.
05/31 Ample set of construction pics (starts here) from Lugoj - Deva motorway sections 2, 3 and 4.
05/31 Ministry of Transport states that an additional number of 1377 plots of land still need to be expropriated as pertaining to the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway (that was opened to traffic some years ago).

[north]

May 2016 * A3 Bucharest - Borș

04/30 Feasibility study ready for 4 out of 5 sectors for the Mihăiești - Suplacu de Barcău section, environmental permit to be out soon; it would be possible to tender these sectors for ERDF financing. Construction contract signature for Nădășel - Mihăiești sector expected to take place soon.
05/01 The constructor of the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section drafted and signed new rental agreements with some owners of land used for motorway construction - and rental compensations started to be paid.
05/04 Notice to commence the design&build contract was submitted to the contractors for the following three sectors of the Târgu Mureș - Câmpia Turzii section:

• Ogra - Iernut (3.6 km); Contractor: Geiger Transilvania SRL - Wilhelm Geiger GmbH & Co.KG; contract value 55,782,941.89 RON (VAT excluded);
• Iernut - Chețani (17.9 km); Contractor: Astaldi SPA – Max Boegl Romania SRL – Astalrom SA – Consitrans SRL; contract value 437,630,890.05 RON (VAT excluded);
• Chețani - Câmpia Turzii (15.7 km); Contractor: S.C. Straco Grup S.R.L. - S.C. Specialist Consulting S.R.L. - S.C. Total Road S.R.L.; contract value 279,744,271.56 Lei RON (VAT excluded).

Construction will be cofinanced by the EU through the Cohesion Fund. The design period is 4 months, and the construction period 12 months. As such, these contracts should be completed by September 4, 2017.
05/10 Data from the official RNCMNR May report regarding the status of the various sections of the A3 motorway under preparation or construction. Construction progress of the Gilău - Nădășel section (the only one currently under construction) advanced during the last month from 68.56% to 70.69%.
05/18 Preliminary works taking place on the three sectors mentioned above (05/04): archaelogical clearance, demining, boring for geotechnical investigations, construction site marking, errection of the construction camps.
05/24 Construction videos (scroll for the second video) from the Gilău - Nădășel motorway.
05/26 Contract signature: the design&build contract for the 16.8 km motorway sector Nădășel - Mihăiești (sector km 8+700 – km 25+500 of the 3A section) was signed today between the RNCMNR and the contractor Impresa Construzioni Giuseppe Maltauro SpA - S.C. Viaponte ROM S.R.L.. Total value is 446,127,400.01 RON (VAT excluded). Financing is to be ensured from the national budget, with a contract duration of 18 months (6 months design + 12 months construction) - computed from the date of the order of commencement (date not specified).
05/29 Ample set of construction pics from the Gilău - Nădășel motorway.
05/31 Construction video (covering the entire alignment) from the Gilău - Nădășel motorway.

[north]

May 2016 * A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret

05/04  For the entire A7/DX7 [except the Bacău bypass, construction to commence soon] the RNCMNR has not even yet launched the tenders for the feasibility studies. A realistic estimate appears to be 2018 for finalising preparatory studies and 2020 for commencement of works.
05/10  Data from the official RNCMNR May report regarding the status of the Bacău bypass: construction site handover on May 6, construction to start on May 25.
05/18  According to press article, RNCMNR has finalised tender documents for the Ploiești - Bacău motorway/expressway studies (feasibility study + design + construction permit, i.e. apparently to be prepared for a Red FIDIC contract-type), and they have been submitted to JASPERS. Tender could start in June.
05/24  Works commence for the Bacău half-motorway bypass. Pictures here, showing clearing and grubbing activities.
05/30  Works for the second carriageway to be performed apparently up to the base course, with only asphalt (and corresponding finishing works - e.g signage) to be remaining for a future contract of converting the bypass into a full motorway (for the section between DN 2 south and DN 2 north)...
05/30  ...however some structures appear to be constructed only for the first carriageway.
05/30  Some press articles (article 1, article 2, article 3) showing start of construction works on the Bacău bypass, as well as data about the project.
05/31  Link to the Bacău bypass project map.

[north]

May 2016 * A10 Sebeș - Turda

05/01  Construction pics from section 4.
05/06  Construction pics from section 2.
05/06  Construction pics from section 4.
05/10  Data from the official RNCMNR May report regarding the status of the Sebeș - Turda motorway. Construction progress from April to May: Section 1: 12.27% to 12.55%; Section 2: 8.30% to 8.58%; Section 3: remains at 48.68%; Section 4: 46.13% to 47.00%. Major problem appears to be the absence of construction permits for many subsections.
05/13  Construction pics from section 2, works acceleration noticed; unfortunately no works on section 3 (pics of construction site).
05/15  Construction site pics from section 2.
05/19  Additional land acquisition decisions, as needed for section 3.
05/19  Construction pics from section 2, again showing acceleration of works.
05/21  More construction pics from section 2.
05/24  Construction pics from the A3-A10 in interchange (at Turda), part of section 4.
05/25  Poppy flowers growing on motorway construction alignment (section 1) - picture became widely distributed by the media.
05/27  Construction pics from section 4, including the A3-A10 interchange.
05/28  Construction pics from sections 4 and 3 (includes subsequent posts).
05/31  Construction pics showing bridge beam placement for the first overpass of A10 over A3 at the Turda interchange between the two motorways (also subsequent posts).

[north]

May 2016 * National roads

04/30  Alignment map for the future A1 - DN 69 expressway connector north of Timișoara (design under completion).
05/03  Site pics from the infamous project of modernising DN 76 between Deva and Oradea, started over 10 years ago. No works on this specific section, road in very bad shape...
05/04  ...followed by a video from a different section of the same road (DN 76).
05/05  The EC approves retroactive financing for one of the Roads 6 projects: DN 15/15A Târgu Mureș - Reghin - Sărățel. EU contribution is over 31 million euro.
05/06  Detailed article about the major failure regarding the DN 76 modernisation.
05/11  Site pics from DN 18 Moisei - Iacobeni: the only failed project of the 16 road rehabilitation projects in the Roads 6 programme.
05/14  Official statement from the RNCMNR regarding the status of works for the modernisation of DN 76 Deva - Oradea...
05/19  ...followed by a site visit of the General Director of the RNCMNR on this road; progress of works appears to be as follows:

• Şoimuș – Brad, km 0+000 – km 30+436: 56.72%;
• Brad - Ionești, km 35+432 – km 55+425: 90%;
• Ionești – Vârfurile, km 55+425 – km 69+350: contract terminated on September 24, 2015, to be retendered;
• Vârfurile – Ştei, km 69+350 – km 102+660: 47%;
• Ştei – Beiuş, km 102+660 – km 133+660: 51.19%;
• Beiuş – Oradea, km 133+660 - km 184+390: contract terminated on May 25, 2015, to be retendered.

05/28  Site/construction pics regarding the modernisation of the DN 5 Bucharest - Adunații Copăcenii sector (delayed for over one decade, but important E-road as well as part of TEN-T Core) (continued in multiple subsequent posts).

[north]

May 2016 * Bypasses

05/14 Data from the official RNCMNR May report regarding the status of various bypass construction:

• Carei: no progress, at 87.40%
• Târgu Mureș: no progress, at 10.60%
• Bucharest (widening): no progress, at 47% (sector A1 - DN 7), 7% (sector DN 2 - A2, also no works contract since February 2015)
• Suceava: no progress, at 85% (also no works contract since September 2014)
• Săcuieni: no progress, at 53,01% (also no works contract since June 2015)
• Tecuci [DN 24 - DN25]: works advance from 3.72% (April) to 14.77%.
• Brașov section 1 (DN 1 south - DN 11): works advance from 74.73% (April) to 75.31%
• Brașov section 2 (widening, DN 11 - DN 13): works advance from 61% (April) to 63%
• Craiova south: no progress, at 97%
• Caracal: no progress, at 77% (works retendered, signed in August 2014)
• Târgu Jiu: works advance from 9.5% (April) to 12.5%
• Under preparation: Mihăilești (GR), Satu Mare, Rădăuți.

05/27  Construction pics from grade separation works on the Oradea bypass.

[north]

[Temp]
Obiectivul este realizarea, în engleză, a unei sinteze (pentru fiecare subiect indicat în prima postare) în care să fie trecute principalele progrese / update-uri / idei discutate + poze/video de la șantiere (sau locații, aliniamente), cu link-uri la postările în .ro.
Scopul este de a ajuta pe cei interesați care nu vorbesc română să găsească informații. Dar, în plus, de a avea o sinteză ușor accesibilă (pentru cei care lipsesc o vreme de pe forum... + pentru a putea urmări lucrurile de-a lungul lunilor sau anilor... etc.)
Propun o perioadă de comentarii privind posibile îmbunătățiri.
Apoi Ionuț poate decide ce face cu thread-ul (pinned? restricted posting? feeding the always hungry thrash can? )
Cred că acest thread nu ar trebui să se transforme într-unul de întrebări în limba engleză (no offense, AUT_XY). Poate pentru asta ar trebui alt thread (și, generalmente vorbind, poate un thread general de întrebări pentru useri ce postează în română).

[TibiV]

[Temp]

The trash can is not so hungry !...

[Ionut]

Facem topicul "sticky". Good job!

[icristian]

+1 North imi place ce ai facut, poti urmari foarte usor progresul sau atunci cand vrei sa cauti un eveniment mai deosebit.
O remarca RNCMNR e foarte confuz, poate ar trebui pastrat termenul de CNADNR, iar la legenda (abbreviation list) poate fi explicat in engleza.

[north]

June 2016 * Motorways: plans and projects

06/01  The RNCMNR presents, in a press release, the list of projects it intends to promote for the financing call launched by the Ministry of EU Funds on 05/30. Regarding new high speed roads (motorways and expressways), this includes the Sibiu - Pitești motorway, the Ploiești - Bacău expressway and a short expressway link between the Bucharest airport and A3 motorway.
06/03  Amidst a discussion regarding the lack of prepared high speed road projects for 2014 - 2020 EU financing and the risks related to only preparing a few large projects, a portfolio of potential project ideas (motorways and expressways) is proposed, that could be at least in part implemented within this planning period (including 2023).
06/04  The years 2018 - 2020 will be the most difficult to account for in terms of EU funds absorption. The only way to avoid this is to immediately launch the limited set of already prepared motorway projects, i.e. sections of A3.
06/17  A post with a link to the list of projects to be financed in Romania via the "Juncker Plan" - second call. No motorway projects are included (however, these are rarely included even for other countries).

[north]

June 2016 * A1 Bucharest - Nădlac

06/02  Discussion continuing over several posts about the significantly delayed preparation of the Sibiu - Pitești motorway section, with arguments for and against a priority treatment for the end sections (1 and 5) of the motorway in regards to obtaining the Environmental Permit. Features a blunt (but realistic) statement of Carsten Rasmussen, Deputy Head of Unit DG Regio regarding the disastrous stage of prepartion for this project, addressed towards the RNCMNR representative at a Transport Subcommittee meeting connected to the LIOP Monitoring Committee.
06/09  Dashcam video from the Pitești - Bucharest A1 shows significant maintenance issues on this motorway section, discussion focused on the administrator's (RNCMNR) carelessness.
06/10  Ample set of Construction pics from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 4.
06/20  Video of the western part (Traian Vuia - Colonia Mică) part of the Lugoj - Deva motorway section 2. Can be compared with video covering the same location from 04/17 (referenced in the post).
06/20  According to an interview with the specialty subcontractor, boring for geotechnical investigations [part of the feasibility study] for the Sibiu - Pitești motorway could be completed before the end of this year.
06/21  Data from the official RNCMNR June report regarding the status of Lugoj - Deva sections 2, 3 and 4 (currently the only sections under construction part of A1): construction status is at 40.95% (Section 2), 51.48% (Section 3) and 47.12% (Section 4).
06/21  Ample set of pics from Orăștie - Sibiu motorway section 3 (currently closed to traffic) showing many major construction faults (especially in regards to drainage), as well as virtually no progress regarding the ~200-m demolished section between September 2015 and June 2016. No reconstruction activities appear to be taking place on the site.
06/22  Construction pics from Lugoj - Deva motorway sections 2 and 3.
06/27  Disappointment regarding the lack of progress in solving the environmental issues for Lugoj - Deva section 4. The probability of finalizing this section before 2018 is minuscule.
06/29  Video showing the construction progress on Lugoj - Deva sections 3 and 4 and a brief discussion of a realistic timeline for opening to traffic the entire Dumbrava - Deva motorway, showing that each of the three sections has major issues preventing full operation before 2018: the sector with tunnels on section 2, construction of the Holdea interchange on section 3, obtaining the environmental permit for 11 km (of total 22) on section 4 (it is noted that 3 years after the contract signing there is no environmental permit - and hence construction permit - for these 11 km).
06/29  Video showing the construction progress on Lugoj - Deva section 2; there is a significant chance that the sector Dumbrava - Margina will be open to traffic end of 2016.

[north]

June 2016 * A3 Bucharest - Borș

06/01 Notice to commence the design&build contract was submitted to the contractor for the following section of the Târgu Mureș - Câmpia Turzii motorway:

• Ungheni - Ogra (10.11 km); Contractor: SC Strabag SRL - SC Straco Grup SRL; contract value 251,349,460.28 (VAT excluded)

The construction permit was also issued this same day[/url].
Construction will be cofinanced by the EU through the Cohesion Fund. The construction period is 12 months. As such, this contract should be completed by May 31, 2017.
06/08  Well-argued point of view regarding the current unrealistic timelines for D&B contracts (Yellow FIDIC type). Proposal is that there should be three stages: 4-6 months design; 10-12 months approvals and land acquisition; 10-12 months construction.
06/09  No progress for the construction of the southernmost 3 km of A3 (inside Voluntari and Bucharest), and - due to permitting issues - it appears that construction will not start before 2017.
06/13  Impressive video showing extreme construction mobilization for the km 9 cut section of the Gilău - Nădășel motorway.
09/16  There appears to be good news regarding the progress on the Nădășel - Mihăiești (topographical and geotechnical investigations as well as demining) and Suplacu de Barcău - Borș (design and letter of bank guarantee submitted) A3 motorway sections.
06/17  Pics documenting preparatory works on the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section.
06/19  Ample set of pics regarding the current status of the abandoned construction works that have been conducted between 2004 and 2011 on the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section by the Bechtel / Enka joint venture.
06/21  Data from the official RNCMNR May report regarding the status of the various sections of the A3 motorway under preparation or construction. Construction progress for the Gilău - Nădășel section (the only one currently under construction) advanced during the last month from 70.69% to 74.34%.
06/24  Construction video from the Gilău - Nădășel motorway.
06/27  (and subsequent post) First pictures of construction works from Iernut - Chețani motorway section.
06/28  End-June construction pics from the Gilău - Nădășel motorway, varying from excavation to asphalt/finishing works.