Monthly Road Infrastructure Digest (EN)

[north]

August 2016 * A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret

08/15  Ample set of pictures showing future construction site and some preparatory / mobilisation works for the Bacău motorway bypass.
08/23  Advance payment (of 70.9 million RON) for the Bacău bypass has been paid.
08/25  User reports progress of the archaeological clearance procedure for the Bacău bypass.

[north]

August 2016 * A10 Sebeș - Turda

08/01  Some clearing and grubbing works reported for Section 1 (pictures)...
08/03  ...as well as preparatory works for the same section (relocation of county road 107 east of Alba Iulia).
08/04  (and subsequent posts) Pictures from sections 2, 3, 4 of the motorway.
08/04  Pics showing additional mobilisation on Section 1.
08/05  Multiple users confirm heavy traffic and major delays on parallel national road DN 1 between Sebeș and Turda, wishing for the motorway to become functional as soon as possible.
08/07  Even more pictures proving remobilisation on Section 1.
08/07  Construction site pics from Section 3.
08/09  Pictures to show additional mobilisation on Section 1.
08/11  Aerial video of the entire future A10 from Turda to Sebeș.
08/12  "Insider" forum member presents unfair situation regarding compensations for land acquisition on the motorway proper.
08/16  It appears that end of 2017 is an optimistic deadline for the opening of section 2 of the motorway...
07/16  ...(same user states that) 2018 appears to be a realistic deadline for section 2; for section 1 - it remains to be seen.
08/17  User expresses his disappointment regarding remobilisation of works on section 4 and especially on section 3...
08/17  ...followed by pics to prove it.
08/22  Pictures from the A10 / A3 interchange.
08/22  Pictures from Sections 2 and 3.
08/24  Still no proper mobilisation for construction of Sections 2, 3 and 4.
08/26  Pictures showing progress at the Aiud interchange on Section 3 of the motorway.
08/26  More pictures showing progress on Section 3.
08/26  Aerial video showing the A3-A10 interchange south of Turda. Unfortunately insignificant construction activities are recorded.
08/27  Some progress photodocumented for Sections 1 and 2.
08/28  More pics from Section 1.

[north]

August 2016 * National roads

08/04  Some pictures to present progress on DN 76 section Beiuș - Ștei...
08/04  ... as well as section Ștei - Vârfurile.
08/07  Technical design for DN 18 Moisei - Cârlibaba (part of the former contract 6R13 from Roads VI programme) have been approved - work should start within weeks.
08/11  More pictures from modernisation of DN 76 section Beiuș - Ștei.
08/13  Pictures showing works on DN 66 Bumbești Jiu - Petroșani (contract 5R3). Note that the finacing contract for this project (as well as DN 76 - and DN 56) was signed 14 years ago with the EIB.
08/17  Pics showing progress (or rather lack of progress) on modernisation of the four-lane DN 5 between Bucharest and Adunații Copăceni.
08/24  Pictures showing progress on the in situ road recycling-based rehabilitation of DN 17C Bistrița - Năsăud and DN 17D Beclean - Salva - Năsăud.
08/25  More pics showing heavy works on the modernisation of DN 76 section Ștei - Vârfurile.

[north]

August 2016 * Bypasses

08/06  Ample report (including pics) from the construction site of the Brașov bypass (widening between DN 13 and DN 11 + new construction between DN 11 and existing bypass north of DN 1 / DN 1A interchange).
08/10  Update from the Târgu Mureș bypass showing rather limited progress.
08/10  More pictures from the widening of the Brașov bypass between DN 11 and DN 13.
08/11  Progress recorded for the construction of road bypasses during the last month, as per the official monthly report from the RNCMNR (ordered by progress achieved):

• Brașov section 1 (DN 1 - DN 11): 81.57% -> 86.62%
• Brașov section 2 widening (DN 11 - DN 13): 64% -> 68%
• Târgu Mureș: 12.93% -> 15.28%
• Caracal: 87% -> 89%
• Tecuci: 5.36% -> 6.34%
• Târgu Jiu: 17.5% -> 18.3%
• Bucharest north A1 - DN 7: 50% -> 50.5%

08/18  Pictures from the construction of the Târgu Jiu bypass - courtesy of RNCMNR - SDN Târgu Jiu.
08/19  Pics showing progress on the Târgu Mureș bypass construction site.
08/22  Yet another set of pics from the Brașov bypass widening.
08/22  Rather disappointing progress documented for the Târgu Jiu bypass.
08/29  Some pictures showing some rather unsatisfactory progress for the Târgu Mureș bypass.
08/30  Dash-cam pictures showing some progress at the grade separation projects on the Oradea bypass.

[north]

September 2016 * Motorways: plans and projects

09/01  (asp) Discussion anticipating problems on the future missing motorway sections: Sebeș - Aiud and Holdea [or Margina] - Dobra and potential to mitigate traffic problems. Consensus is that the biggest problems will be on the Sebeș - Alba Iulia section as well as inside the Teiuș and Aiud towns. Limited options to temporarily address capacity are identified: signalised pedestrian crossings in Teiuș and Aiud, as well as solving the quality problems of the outermost lanes on the 4-lane section inside Alba Iulia (south).
09/13  Link to an article showing the disastrous progress regarding the execution of this year's national roads budget: a total of 4140 MRON was budgeted for 2016 for the RNCMNR, of which the spending in the first part of the year was 762 MRON (18.4%!). Thus a negative budget rectification of 357 MRON was applied by the government.
09/13  (asp) Discussion regarding the suboptimal planned links to the national high speed road network of Satu Mare / Baia Mare / Maramureș: via route Baia Mare - Dej instead of Baia Mare - Zalău. Consensus is that the latter would have been preferred.
09/14  The GTMP was approved by the government by means of a government decision.
09/18  (asp) Discussions about the preferred priority way to continue eastward the (future) west - east motorway axis Timișoara - Brașov: towards Bacău or towards Galați / Brăila.
09/19  Two lists providing an overview of ongoing road projects of national importance: those that progress satisfactorily and those - reference made only to projects with already executed works - that are "blocked".
09/21  (asp) Discussion on what is currently more suitable for motorway construction in Romania: yellow (D&B) or red (B) FIDIC-type contracts? No clear conclusion drawn.

[north]

September 2016 * A1 Bucharest - Nădlac

09/01  Pictures from Lugoj - Deva section 3 (asphalt and finishing works) courtesy of RNCMNR - Timișoara regional office.
09/07  (asp) Ample set of pictures covering construction progress on Lugoj - Deva motorway section 4...
09/07  ...continues here, also covering section 3.
09/09  Section 2 pictures, courtesy of RNCMNR.
09/10  Data from the official RNCMNR monthly 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 46.96% for Section 2 (45.22% in August); 63.24% for Section 3 (60.86% in August) and 47.98% for Section 4 (47.92% in August).
09/11  (asp) Sunday pictures from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 2.
09/14  (asp) Pictures from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3.
09/15  And yet another set from section 4 of the same motorway. Works appear to be taking place at many sites, despite virtually no advance being seen in the official monthly reports.
09/15  (asp) Even many many more pictures from section 3.
09/16  (asp) Pictures showing progress for the reconstruction of the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway section 3 (km 60+545 - km 60+770), supposedly to be completed by the end of this month.
09/19  According to realistic estimates from forum members, the Lugoj - Deva motorway will only be completed by 2020, namely due to the section featuring tunnels that still needs to be tendered.
09/19  Link to press material showing promise from the prime-minister that the section with tunnels will be tendered "during this fall".
09/23  In-depth analysis of forum member concludes that the Sibiu - Pitești motorway could open by: 2022 - 2023 (in a very optimistic scenario); 2025 (in a realistic/optimistic scenario); 2030 (in a realistic/pessimistic scenario).
09/25  Pictures showing heavy mobilisation for the reconstruction of the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway section 3 (km 60+545 - km 60+770), yet it appears to be unlikely to be opened to traffic by the end of the month.
09/26  (asp) Extremely long set of pictures from Lugoj - Deva motorway construction section 4...
09/27  ...followed by some pics from section 2.
09/27  RNCMNR officially acknowledges that the Orăștie - Sibiu section 3 won't reopen to traffic by the end of the month; blames it on the rain.
09/29  Pictures from the subsection of the Lugoj - Deva section 2 motorway that is supposed to open to traffic this year...
09/30  (asp) ...and yet another set.

[north]

September 2016 * A3 Bucharest - Borș

09/03  Advance payment (of 60.6 million RON) for the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș bypass has been paid to the contractor.
09/05  Forum member expresses dissatisfaction with the notice to commence not yet being issued for the section Nădășel - Mihăiești, despite the contract having been signed in May this year.
09/05  Pictures showing clearing & grubbing works on the Ungheni - Sânpaul section.
09/08  It appears that works have finally restarted (albeit in a timid manner) on the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section.
09/10  According to the RNCMNR's official monthly progress report, the following physical completion rates are recorded for sections currently under construction: Târgu Mureș - Ogra section 2: 3.24%; Gilău - Nădășel: 82%; Suplacu de Barcău - Borș: 52.12%.
09/16  (asp) Pictures showing start of works around the Popasului interchange on the Bucharest section of the motorway.
09/17  (Mostly) alignment pics from the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section of the motorway.
09/20  Construction pics from the Ogra - Târgu Mureș section.
09/20  Aerial video recording of works on the Gilău - Nădășel section.
09/21  Aerial video showing some of the works / alignment on the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section.

[north]

September 2016 * A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret

09/08  Link to press article quoting the General Director of the RNCMNR stating that the tender for the FS for the Ploiești - Bacău expressway/motorway will be published in the national tender system within two weeks [did not happen!], while the corresponding tender for the remaining section Bacău - Pașcani will "probably" be launched in October.
09/09  Pictures showing archaeological clearance works on the Bacău bypass.
09/10  (asp) Bacău bypass alignment pictures: clearing & grubbing, preparatory works.

[north]

September 2016 * A10 Sebeș - Turda

09/01  Pics with construction activities from section 4.
09/01  Pictures showing installation of beams on a long structure (a bridge over Mureș river) in section 3.
09/02  Pictures close to the border between sections 2 and 3.
09/03  (as well as some previous posts) Discussions about proposals and plans for the connection between the motorway (Alba Iulia south exit) and Alba Iulia. It appears that no adequate solution is planned for the connection to and from the southern half of the city.
09/02  (asp) Pictures showing further mobilisation and progress on sections 2 and 1...
09/04  (asp) ...while section 4 is much more advanced.
09/04  More construction pics from section 2...
09/05  (asp) ... and also covering section 3 (two different sources).
09/07  And more pics from section 4...
09/07  ...followed again by section 3 (near the large structure at the Mureș river)...
09/09  ...and yet again section 3.
09/10  According to the official RNCMNR monthly report the following physical progress rates are quoted: Section 1: 12.80%, Section 2: 11.32%, Section 3: 53.50% and Section 4: 54.10%.
09/11  Another set of pictures from section 3, followed in subsequent posts by an avalanche of pics from section 2.
09/21  Nighttime video showing beam installation on structure at the A3-A10 interchange.
09/21  (asp) More pictures from sections 3, 4 and 1.
09/25  Aerial video of the entire section 3.
09/25  Aerial video of the works at the A3 - A10 interchange.
09/28  Pictures from section 3.
09/29  (asp) More pics from all four sections of the motorway.
09/30  Aerial video of the entire motorway construction site.
09/30  Works at major structures on the motorway near Aiud.

[north]

September 2016 * National roads

09/04  Dashcam video of the Pocola - Beiuș section of DN 76 under rehabilitation...
09/04  ...followed by construction pictures from the Beiuș - Ștei section of the same road.
09/09  Works for the rehabilitation of DN 18 Moisei - Iacobeni (former contract 6R16 from Roads VI) have finally restarted, as can be seen in pictures.
09/13  Another set of pics showing heavy works on DN 76 between Ștei and Oradea.
09/19  Ingenious proposal regarding alignment optimisation of the planned widening of DN 7 and DN 71 past their intersection.
09/24  Pictures showing resurfacing of DN 6 between Bucharest and Alexandria, that has been modernised part of the Roads II programme between 1998 and 2000.
09/29  Long photo report from the long-due modernisation of the four-lane road DN 5 between Bucharest and Adunații Copăceni.

[north]

September 2016 * Bypasses

09/08  Pics showing progress on the Târgu Mureș bypass, near its future intersection with DN 15.
09/10  Progress recorded for the construction of road bypasses during the last month, as per the official monthly report from the RNCMNR (ordered by progress achieved):

• Brașov section 1 (DN 1 - DN 11): 86.62% -> 95.66%
• Brașov section 2 widening (DN 11 - DN 13): 68% -> 75%
• Bucharest north A1 - DN 7: 50.5% -> 55%
• Târgu Mureș: 15.28% -> 18.72%
• Tecuci: 6.34% -> 8.5%
• Târgu Jiu: 18.3% -> 21%

09/15  RNCMNR informs about decision to use in-house resources (similar to the reconstruction of a subsection of the Orăștie - Sibiu section 3 motorway) to finalise works for the construction of the Suceava bypass.
09/17  Photo report from the construction site of the Târgu Mureș bypass road.
09/23  Responding to mounting local pressure regarding the construction of the Timișoara bypass (albeit only the eastern / southern section between DN 6 east and DN 59 south), the RNCMNR replies that their estimate for the launch date for the construction tender is T2/2017. However the FS still needs to be updated.

[north]

October 2016 * Motorways: plans and projects

10/02  Forum member argues that land acquisition should be completed as soon as possible for all GTMP motorway and expressway projects near urban areas, such as to avoid construction of buildings taking place on or along the right of way; sections proposed shown on map.
10/21  General director of the NCARI states that tenders for remaining FS and / or designs of all motorway and expressway projects planned for the 2014 - 2020 programming period (according to the GTMP) will be started before the end of this year. These projects are Ploiești - Pașcani, Craiova - Pitești, Comarnic - Brașov, Făgăraș - Brașov and Iași - Ungheni.

[north]

October 2016 * A1 Bucharest - Nădlac

10/01  Construction pics from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3: significant progress around the future Ilia interchange...
10/01  ...and a set from a different source to support the claim.
10/01  Works also advance on section 2 (pics). Forum member reports that it is "technically" possible to open subsection Dumbrava - Margina to traffic this year, let's hope that also "bureaucratically" it will be possible.
10/04  Pictures showing finishing works on the same section.
10/05  Long set of pics (stretching over several pages) from sections 3 and 4.
10/10  The 22 km motorway between Cunța and Săliște (section 3 of the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway) reopens to traffic (initial opening: November 2014; closed to traffic: September 2015). 200 m of the motorway were completely reconstructed (km 60+545 to km 60+770); the process was managed in-house by NCARI (former RNCMNR), with some of the materials and equipment being supplied by private contractors.
10/11  According to a forum member, the quality of the motorway surface is not the best - based on the quality of the ride. This does not refer to the 200 m reconstructed sector, but to the entire motorway, the cause being the initial construction quality.
10/11  More pictures showing the Lugoj - Deva motorway section 2 nearing completion.
10/12  Aerial pictures with labels showing explanations regarding the Holdea and Grind future interchanges on Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3.
10/12  Aerial video of Lugoj - Deva motorway section 2...
10/13  ... and progress achieved between August 29 and October 12 shown by comparing corresponding stills from videos.
10/14  According to calendar presented by forum member, the revised environmental permit for the Lugoj - Deva motorway should be issued by November 15. This will allow restarting of works on section 4.
10/17  NCARI's official monthly report lists the following progress rates for the construction of the Lugoj - Deva motorway: section 2: 46.96% (September) to 51.86% (October); section 3: 63.24% to 67.12%; section 4: 47.98% to 48.13%.
10/18  Pics showing asphalt and finishing works on section 2.
10/19  Local authorities push for the construction of another interchange on the A1 motorway, between the Șoimuș and Simeria interchanges, to better serve the Deva municipality.
10/21  In an open letter addressed to the General Director of the NCARI, PIA expresses concerns regarding the following issues related to the A1 motorway:

• Opening to traffic this year of the Dumbrava - Margina subsection of the Lugoj - Deva motorway: it is critical to solve the bureaucratic hurdles in order to achieve this.
• Tendering the construction of the tunnels on the remainder of section 2 as soon as the design is received and approved.
• Issuing the construction permit for the "bat cave area" of section 4 is critical in order to ensure a realistic probability for opening this section to traffic in 2017.
• More transparency required in order to finalise the feasibility study for the Sibiu - Pitești motorway: sections 1, 4 and 5 are supposed to have finalised studies in November 2016.

10/24  Generous set of pictures from Lugoj - Deva sections 4 and 3 construction site...
10/24  ...followed by five short dashcam videos.
10/25  NCARI publishes a PPT presentation showing the calendar and history of the reconstruction of Orăștie - Sibiu motorway section 3 (km 60+545 to km 60+770).
10/29  Picture set from Lugoj - Deva motorway section 2, showing heavy works especially at and around the Margina interchange...
10/29  ...more pics from the same location...
10/31  ...as well as aerial pics explained with text labels.

[north]

October 2016 * A3 Bucharest - Borș

10/03  Aerial video of the Târgu Mureș (Ungheni) - Câmpia Turzii construction site. The environmental and construction permits have not been issued for over 75% of the section (despite one year having passed since signing the construction contracts), thus contractors cannot yet start complex works.
10/03  Forum member documents the various locations in the movie above, section by section.
10/03  Finishing works on the Gilău - Nădășel section, which unfortunately won't be usable for quite a while.
10/04  Picture set documenting earthworks on the Popasului st. - Bucharest bypass section.
10/06  The FS for the A3 connector to Oradea (a 20 km four-lane expressway) has been prepared by the Oradea Metropolitan Zone IDA, and was handed over today to the RNCMNR/NCARI.
10/06  Notice to commence the design&build contract was issued to the contractor Impresa Construzioni Giuseppe Maltauro SpA - S.C. Viaponte ROM S.R.L. for the 16.8 km motorway Nădășel - Mihăiești. Contract was signed on May 26 this year and is to have a duration of 18 months (6 months design + 12 months construction). As such, the contract should be completed by April 7, 2018.
07/10  Discussion about the opportunity of constructing, in the medium term, the Târgu Mureș - Brașov section. The GTMP does not include this project, however the Romanian Strategy for Territorial Development up to 2035 lists the entire A3 project (along with A1 and Sibiu - Brașov motorways) as a priority for "efficient economic development".
10/08  User reports that essentially no works are to be seen on the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section.
10/17  According to the NCARI's official monthly progress report, the following physical completion rates are recorded for sections currently under construction: Târgu Mureș - Ogra section 2: 10.31% (up from 3.24% last month); Gilău - Nădășel: 82.4% (up from 82%); km 0 - 3+325 Bucharest: 6% (up from ~0%). No progress reported for the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section.
10/21  Launch of (re)tendering process for the construction contract of the Târgu Mureș - Ungheni motorway. This will be a Red FIDIC contract with construction estimated to take 18 months. Offers to be submitted by December 7, 2016.
10/21  Launch of tendering process for the completion of the Gilău Someș river viaduct that will connect the motorway sections Câmpia Turzii - Gilău (open to traffic since 2009) and Gilău - Nădășel (currently 82.4% complete). Offers to be submitted by December 5, 2016. However, remaining finishing works on the Câmpia Turzii - Gilău motorway section still need to be retendered.
10/21  Aerial video of the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section (up to km 44). Construction works are virtually at a standstill, but no construction permit has been issued so far.
10/23  Pictures showing construction progress on Târgu Mureș - Ogra motorway section 2.
10/24  The Tureni local council formally rejected the design proposal for the A3 Mărtinești connector, which would significantly improve access from A3 to Cluj-Napoca, Romania's second largest city.
10/27  Press article presents an overview of the progress regarding the Ogra - Câmpia Turzii motorway: archaeological diagnosis is completed (however clearance is not). Design is approved for section 1, with approval pending for section 2, and design still to be submitted for section 3.
10/28  The tender for revising the feasibility study for 47 km of the Comarnic - Brașov motorway (i.e. excepting the end sections near Comarnic and Codlea) was started in July 2015, however it is still not clear whether the contract will be signed or the tender will be cancelled, following a long legal battle between the NCARI and the design company that won the tender. Should the tender be cancelled, the NCARI intends to launch a new tender which this time is to include also the detailed design.
10/28  Two pictures taken in the same location on October 27 and 28 show the fast pace of construction on the Ungheni - Ogra motorway section.
10/28  Aerial video of the Gilău - Nădășel motorway nearing completion.
10/31  General director of the NCARI states that the 47 km of motorway between Ungheni (Târgu Mureș airport interchange) and Câmpia Turzii will open to traffic next year, however forum members doubt that this is feasible given the complexity of some structures to be built on this section.

[north]

October 2016 * A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret

10/02  (asp) Pictures show anemic construction progress on the Bacău bypass site.
10/29  Pics and reports documenting errection of the construction camp and archaeological clearance for the Bacău bypass.