Monthly Road Infrastructure Digest (EN)

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October 2016 * A10 Sebeș - Turda

10/03  Side-by-side stills (taken from aerial videos) showing progress between August 9 and September 30 for all four sections of the motorway.
10/04  Pictures showing progress on section 4...
10/04  ...and on section 3...
10/06  ...as well as section 2.
10/12  Description of progress on all three sections - hampered by the rainy season.
10/12  Construction pictures from section 1.
10/14  The two bridges over the Mureș river on section 2 (most likely both structures are on the critical path) see very limited progress, as documented by pictures.
10/14  More pictures from sections 2 and 1. Forum member concludes that 2018 is a realistic estimate for finalising section 2, however not so likely for section 1.
10/14  More pictures from sections 2 and 3.
10/15  Photoreport from section 1 - includes ample explanation of pictures and of the construction progress.
10/17  NCARI's monthly progress report shows satisfactory progress, with sections tagging along in pairs: sections 3 (59.5% / +6% compared to last month) and 4 (58.2% / +4.1%) one one hand, and sections 1 (15% / +2.2%) and 2 (11.46% / +0.14%) on the other hand.
10/23  Pictures: construction update from sections 3 and 4...
10/24  ... and 1...
10/24  ... with another set (includes detailed explanations) from the same section.
10/25  Pictures: beam placement (over the railway line) on the major structure at the Aiud interchange...
10/26  ...with more pics and a movie here.
10/28  Drone video of section 4. Construction progress is hampered by power towers on the alignment (multiple locations) still awaiting relocation.
10/31  Pictures from section 4...
10/31  ...and section 2...
10/31  ...and also section 1.

[north]

October 2016 * National roads

10/01  Construction update from the DN 18 Moisei - Iacobeni road modernisation project, section 1 Moisei - Borșa.
10/10  More pictures from national road rehabilitation in northern Romania: DN 17D, DN 17C and DN 18.
10/11  Dashcam video of DN 1R from Huedin to Albac (formerly DJ 108) crossing the Apuseni National Park - finally paved with asphalt from one end to the other.
10/16  Pictures showing modernisation of DN 5 south of Bucharest.
10/19  Construction pictures from section 2 (Borșa - Șesuri) of DN 18 Moisei - Iacobeni... however part of this section appears to be in a different season.
10/23  DN 18 from Baia Mare to Sighetu Marmației (contractor: Aktor) is still under modernisation, ready to enter the 6th construction year.

[north]

October 2016 * Bypasses

10/01  Brașov bypass section 1 (DN 1 - DN 11) appears to be almost ready for opening, as shown in these pictures. Forum member ranks the quality of the wearing course as mediocre.
10/04  Signature of the contract for the supervision of works for the construction of the Satu Mare bypass.
10/04  Pictures showing construction of the Târgu Jiu bypass. Some progress at structures, but very limited earthworks progress.
10/06  The FS for the A3 connector to Oradea has been prepared by the Oradea Metropolitan Zone IDA, and was handed over today to the NCARI, which will supposedly implement the construction. This will be a 20 km four-lane expressway with median barrier, however not entirely grade-separated, as it will include two roundabouts.
10/09  Pictures from the Oradea bypass, with the Nojoridului and Ciheiului grade separation projects nearing completion.
10/13  Pictures: the opening to traffic of the Brașov bypass (section DN 1 south - DN 11) depends on the completion of the interchange between the bypass and DN 11.
10/17  According to the NCARI monthly report, the construction of the Târgu Mureș bypass has advanced during the last month from 18.72% to 22.16%...
10/19  ...and pictures to document progress.
10/19  Progress for the construction of road bypasses during the last month, as per the official NCARI monthly report:

• Brașov section 1 (DN 1 - DN 11): 95.66% -> 98.25%
• Caracal: 89% -> 91%
• Brașov section 2 widening (DN 11 - DN 13): 75% -> 84%
• Târgu Jiu: 21% -> 25%
• Târgu Mureș: 18.72% -> 22.16%
• Tecuci: 8.5% -> 10%
• Mihăilești: 0% -> 2%

10/20 NCARI informs that the contract for the construction of the Beiuș - Ștei bypass has been signed on October 5th. The contract value is 257.4 MRON (approximately 58 MEUR) and construction is expected to take 24 months following the issuing of the notice to commence.
This project is in fact an extended relocation of DN 76 (the new road will have 27.2 km), from north of Beiuș to south of Ștei, intercepting DJ 764F to Salonta, DJ 763 to Padiș hiking area in the Apuseni National Park and DN 75 to Arieșeni, Câmpeni and Turda, and bypassing multiple settlements (Beiuș, Drăgănești, Sudrigiu, Rieni, Petrileni, Ștei and Lunca). This will be a 2x1 road almost entirely grade-separated...
10/23  ...and a map showing its alignment can be seen here.
10/26  The Nojoridului overpass has been open to traffic, bringing the Oradea bypass one step closer to being a fully grade-separated expressway.

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November 2016 * Motorways: plans and projects

11/05  Forum member makes a realistic forecast regarding motorways expected to open in 2017: A1 Lugoj - Deva section 2 (Holdea - Ilia), A3 Bucharest entrance (3 km) and A10 Sections 3 and 4 (Aiud - Turda). Thus, it appears that not only 2016 (15 km expected) but also 2017 will be dire in terms of motorway openings.
11/08  Zoomable OSM-based map showing past/expected motorway openings is also updated accordingly (blue = expected opening; red = expected finishing of construction but without traffic access).

[north]

credits to user TibiV for preparing the Romanian version of this month's A1 digest

November 2016 * A1 Bucharest - Nădlac

11/02  Photoreport from Lugoj - Deva motorway covering the Ilia interchange from section 3 as well as the ecoducts from section 4.
11/02  Detailed report from the Aciliu viaduct from the Orăștie - Sibiu motorway: existing problems, remedial works executed so far and earth slides from the cut from the southern end of the viaduct.
11/03  Aerial videos covering sections 2, 3 and 4 of the Lugoj - Deva motorway. Important progress can be seen at some construction sites, however also high voltage power towers that still need to be relocated.
11/14  Pictures from the Margina interchange, showing intense works and significant progress. This is the access interchange for the 15 km section Dumbrava - Margina, part of section 2 of the Lugoj - Deva motorway, which will most likely open to traffic before Christmas.
11/14  Winter pictures from the Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3 construction site. Many sectors are finalised, including the wearing course and guardrails, and remedial works can be seen in other sectors addressing issues mainly regarding water drainage.
11/15  Design sketches of the future "temporary" Holdea interchange, the western access point for the Lugoj - Deva motorway section 3. The section between Holdea and Margina (see above) will most likely be the only segment of A1 between Nădlac (at the western border) and Sibiu for which works will be delayed for some years, since it requires the construction of some motorway tunnels (and the tender for construction is yet to be launched). Between Margina and Holdea traffic will use approximately 15 km of the national road DN 68A, a winding two-lane road.
11/16  Chart showing the montly progress for the three motorway sections under construction between Dumbrava and Deva.
11/20  A comprehensive set of pics from sections 4 and 3 of the Lugoj - Deva motorway, from the Brănișca ecoduct towards the Ilia interchange, then covering the Mureș bridge and finally the Grind interchange.
11/22  The Ministry of Transport and NCARI have presented the final alignment for the future Sibiu - Pitești motorway. Its length will be 123.037 km and it will have 10 interchanges. The total length of tunnels will be around 13 km (i.e. 7 tunnels with a total length of 6430 m for each carriageway). The alignment can be seen on OSM support here.
11/24  According to forum member, the revised environmental permit for the Lugoj - Deva motorway will be issued by mid December.
11/26  Ample photoreport covering all three sections under construction of the Lugoj - Deva motorway...
11/28  ...as well as corresponding drone videos covering section 4 and section 3.
11/29  Aerial video of the Dumbrava - Margina motorway, hopefully to open for traffic before Christmas.
11/30  Deep bores for geotechnical investigations on section 4 of the future Sibiu - Pitești motorway.

[north]

November 2016 * A3 Bucharest - Borș

11/01  Aerial video of the construction works of the southernmost section of A3: access to northern Bucharest; expected opening date of the section between Popasului street and the Bucharest bypass is December 2016.
11/03  Photo report from Strabag's A3 section near Târgu Mureș (Ungheni - Ogra), see red section on map linked at end of paragraph. This is the most advanced (and with the highest construction dynamics) section of the Câmpia Turzii - Târgu Mureș motorway, however section won't be usable unless interchange on adjacent western lot will be also completed in time (see map).
11/04  (asp) Notice of termination of contract for the construction of the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș A3 motorway section. Initially the contractors (Corsan Corviam Construction S.A. – S.C. Selina S.R.L. – Louis Berger Sas – S.C. Road Consulting & Design Solutions S.R.L. and S.C. RCM Construzioni SRL, leader of the association RCM Construzioni SRL / Imob Lux Construct SRL / Consinit SRL / Societatea de Construcţii Napoca SA / Impresa Ferrara S.N.C Di Angela & Rossella Ferrara / SC T Dancor RomConstruct SRL / SC Shelter Construct SRL / Associazione Cooperativa Muratori & Affini Ravenna S.C.P.A. / Schiavo & C.SpA /Eurocerad International SRL) submitted the notice, however the client (NCARI) rejected the notice and submitted its own. This in fact means that realistically construction will most likely restart in 2018, with the entire section possibly finalised by 2020...
11/05  ...but according to a press article the General Director of the NCARI states that the construction will be retendered "before the end of this year".
11/16  Graph showing progress rates during the last month for some of the A3 sections under construction (based on data from the official NCARI monthly report).
11/20  Forum member points out that 13 months have passed since the initial deadline for the finalisation of the feasibility study for the ~2.4 km Meseș Tunnel (part of the A3 near Zalău). No communication from NCARI regarding this contract.
11/21  Construction pics from the Popasului interchange on A3/Bucharest, at the southern end of the section planned to open to traffic in December.
11/30  More construction pics from the Ungheni - Ogra section (progress stands at 11.4% as per the NCARI November report).

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October 2016 * A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret

11/04  Earthworks pictures, no work on structures reported...
11/18  ...and pictures to contradict the last part of the statement above
11/24  The much-anticipated tender for the feasibility study (including detailed design) for the "high speed road" [A/DX]7 (consultant to recommend and NCARI to decide if motorway or expressway) has been launched for four sections between Ploiești and Pașcani (segmented at Buzău, Focșani and Bacău). Contracts are expected to have a duration of 24 months (14 for the feasibility study, 6 for the detailed design and 4 for the preparation of the tender documents for construction). Deadline for the submission: January 5 / 9, 2017.
11/26  Pictures showing structure work on the Bacău bypass.

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November 2016 * A10 Sebeș - Turda

11/02  Forum member reports construction is ongoing at a satisfactory pace on sections 3 and 4 despite cold weather (2-3 ^oC above zero).
11/02  Pictures showing ABC and AWC works on section 4.
11/04  Forum member reports that significant works (both earthworks and structures) are ongoing on section 2 too...
11/05  ...and pictures from the same section.
11/05  Long photoreport from sections 2 and 1. These two sections are finally catching up (in terms of progress rate) with sections 3 and 4. At this moment the motorway construction sites from the future Sebeș - Turda motorway are the most dynamic in Romania.
11/06  More pics from section 3 (first post) and 2 (second post).
11/08  The construction permit for the Sebeș A1xA10 interchange (part of section 1) is still not issued, forum member predicts it will be out soon...
11/09  ...and another member lists the most challenging points on section 1, most of which are structures where work has not yet started.
11/17  Graph showing progress rates during the last month for the four A10 sections (based on data from the official NCARI monthly report).
11/19  Generous set of construction pics from section 3...
11/21  ...and 2, courtesy of the same member.
11/25  (asp) Ample set of pictures covering sections 4, 3 and 2.
11/30  And a different take: a "nature and the motorway" set of pics, followed by other construction pics from section 3.

[north]

November 2016 * National roads

11/04  DN 14A between Mediaș and Târnăveni has received a much needed resurfacing. However, the section between Târnăveni and Iernut still needs attention, part of which is surfaced with jointed concrete pavement in rather poor condition.
11/06  Pictures from modernisation of the Oradea - Deva road (E79 / DN 76), much work still to be done.
11/20  More pics from the reconstruction of DN 76.
11/25  A long and heated debate pro/con reconfiguring the DN 2 / DN 28 corridor, currently a 1+1 road with wide (2.5 m) paved shoulders into a [2+1] road.

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November 2016 * Bypasses

11/02  Aerial video of the Bucharest ringroad widening (from two to four lanes) between DN 7 and A1.
11/15  An overview of the current status regarding the widening of the Bucharest ringroad (most of it still a two lane road), clockwise from north --- section DN 2 - A2: design almost complete, tender to be launched by December, estimated completion late 2017; A2 - DN 5: a decision to be made regarding the actual technical solution to be implemented by May 2017, design to follow afterwards; DN 5 - A1: tender for D&B contract to be launched by December, estimated completion by 2019; A1 - DN 7: completion expected this December.
11/18  A new 7.3 km four-lane section of the eastern Brașov bypass, between DN 11 and DN 1, opened to traffic today.
11/18  According to the NCARI monthly report the following progress was recorded this month for bypasses under construction or widening: from 84% to 91% for Brașov bypass widening between DN 13 and DN 11; from 10% to 15% for the Tecuci bypass; from 22.16% to 23.57% for the Târgu Mureș bypass; from 25% to 26.5% for the Târgu Jiu bypass; and from 0% to 0.04% for the Bacău bypass (first carriageway of future A7).
11/25  According to press release, the notice to commence the construction of the Rădăuți bypass (a small town in the far northeast) was issued today; it is interesting to note that the signature of the construction contract took place in May 2011.

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December 2016 * Motorways: plans and projects

12/06  A survey conducted by a professional company (sample size 1122) shows that Romanians strongly support actions aimed at developing road infrastructure (modernising existing roads and construction of motorways) over actions and programs aimed at modernising rail infrastructure and rolling stock.
12/06  Analysis of a forum member (followed by some discussion) regarding the limited involvement and passive approach of most city authorities is solving issues pertaining to urban and periurban road infrastructure connectivity to the national networks.
12/08  Forum member points out that, as of December 1, the total value of payments made in 2016 by NCARI [and RNCMNR] for motorway construction is roughly 158.9 million EUR (however significant payments are expected for December). According to press article (see post above), the 2016 budget allocation for construction of motorways was 384.4 million EUR.
12/16  PIA vicepresident (and the founder of this forum) points out that no more than 50 km of motorways can be realistically expected to open to traffic in 2017, namely 28 km of A10 (from Aiud to Turda) and 22 km from A1 (section 3, from Ilia to Holdea). In addition 19 km of motorway would be finalised in 2017 without being usable.
12/22  Forum member posts official letter received from NCARI regarding the status of the future motorways in the corridor Bacău/Comarnic - Brașov - Făgăraș - Sibiu. The contract for the preparation of the feasibility study for the Făgăraș - Sibiu section (suspended since November 18, 2015) will see continuation of implementation starting with January 17, 2017. Tender documents are currently being prepared for contracting the revision of the FS for the Făgăraș - Brașov section. No preparation is expected to take place for the Brașov - Bacău section before 2021. The contract for the revision the feasibility study for sections Comarnic - Cristian is expected to be signed soon (consultant Consitrans SRL - 3TI Progetti Italy - Ingegneria Integrata SPA, contract value 9.6 million RON).
12/28  Press article presents comparative analysis covering the last 5 years in terms of investments in public infrastructure. Investment spending in the first 11 months has decreased from 4% of GDP (2013) to 2.9% of GDP (2016). 2016 also stands out as the year with no new motorway sections open to traffic.
12/29  PIA vicepresident points out that in addition to the two motorway sections currently finalised but not usable by traffic, there is a risk for this situation to appear for 3 other sections in 2017 (A3 Gilău - Nădășel, A3 Ungheni - Ogra and A1 Dobra - Holdea).

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credits to user TibiV for preparing the Romanian version of this month's A1 digest

December 2016 * A1 Bucharest - Nădlac

12/05  Short photoreport from the Margina interchange from section 2 of the Lugoj - Deva motorway. This is the access interchange for the 15 km Dumbrava - Margina motorway section that should have been open to traffic before the end of this month.
12/07  Photos from the showing the poor shape of DN 73C, which will be the main connection between Râmnicu Vâlcea and the Tigveni interchange of the future Sibiu - Pitești motorway. Pics present two areas (separated by around 1 km) where land slides have been a problem for decades. A1 Sibiu - Pitești will have 5 sections, however the modernisation of DN 73C, including the construction of a new 1.5 km road segment, is included in the project as "section sx6".
12/09  The revised environmental permit for the entire Lugoj - Deva motorway (km 0+000 – km 100+014) was issued today. The 98-page document comprises a lot of technical data about the motorway. It appears that the construction permit for the Margina interchange was also issued today.
12/10  A comprehensive photoreport shows heavy ongoing works for finalising the Margina interchange on section 2 of the Lugoj - Deva motorway.
12/11  Pics from section 4 of the same motorway. Half of this section (between Brănișca and Ilia) already has upper pavement layers and guardrails.
12/11  Another set of pics from the Margina interchange, hopefully to be open by Christmas. The interchange layout can be seen here or here.
12/18  Video recorded by the IPA team at the Margina interchange. Traffic should open in 3 to 5 days, apparently the only thing missing are horizontal markings on a few hundred meters.
12/21  Heated debate about NCARI's disappointing decision (link to official statement) not to open to traffic the Traian Vuia / Dumbrava - Margina 15 km motorway section, despite works being completed, legal/bureaucratic reasons being invoked.
12/22  The phrase "museum of the motorway A1 Dumbrava - Margina" is patented in IPA's photoreport proving that the motorway is fully completed; phrase is relayed by much of the Romanian mass-media.
12/23  Pictures from section 3 of the Lugoj - Deva motorway, starting from the Ilia interchange, covering the bridge over the Mureș river and finally the Grind interchange.
12/24  Christmas present from the IPA: drone aerial video of the Dumbrava - Margina motorway section, finalised but not open to traffic.

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December 2016 * A3 Bucharest - Borș

12/01  Forum member reports that the constructor of the Gilău - Nădășel section is seen working despite today being the Romanian national day (reference is made to obeyance of the Christian as opposed to the non-religious public holidays)...
12/03  ...however as of today all construction work has been suspended for the winter season.
12/04  Construction pics from around the Popasului interchange on the southernmost section of A3 (inside the Bucharest urban area).
12/04  "Preparing for hibernation": pictures from section Gilău - Nădășel.
12/04  Drone video from the same section. Works remaining for 2017 are: laying the wearing course (for less than half of the section), horizontal signing as well as solving two land slides.
12/05  Minister of transport states that he expects that the construction of the Suplacu de Barcău - Borș section (construction contract terminated last month) will be retendered in two sections, with tender expected to start "during his mandate" (implying that the tender would be launched this year).
12/08  More pics from the A3 section in the Bucharest urban area that is expected to open to traffic this year...
12/20  ...and an aerial video (credits to ASCORO) of this six-lane urban motorway with no hard shoulders, ready to open to traffic...
12/21  (asp) ...however according to inside information from various forum members, the motorway will not see traffic in 2016 (as it previously had been expected).
12/22  Graph showing progress rates during the last month for some of the A3 sections under construction (based on data from the official NCARI monthly report).

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December 2016 * A7 Ploiești - Bacău - Siret

12/05  Maps showing proposed alignments (based on a 2003 - 2006 prefeasibility study) for the future Ploiești - Buzău - Bacău - Sculeni (RO/MD border) motorway (post text contains link to higher resolution images)...
12/06  ...with forum members commenting on rather low number of proposed access points, suggesting additional interchanges especially near key towns along the route.
12/07  IPA vicepresident shows concern about no clear instructions (in the tender documents) regarding the procedure for deciding between motorway and expressway during the preparation stage for the Ploiești - Pașcani corridor; he reminds that IPA has taken a public stance supporting the construction of a motorway (not expressway).
12/08  Contractor of the Bacău bypass posts new pics showing piling...
12/12  ...and other works.

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December 2016 * A10 Sebeș - Turda

12/04  Construction pics of sections 3 and 4 taken while driving on the parallel national road.
12/11  Propitious weather permits continuation of works (even paving) during December, as seen in these pictures.
12/16  More December construction pics, this time from section 2.
12/21  More photos from the same section, mostly piling-related.
12/22  Aerial video from section 3...
12/22  ...as it stands at a 66.5% completion rate, according to this month's official report.
12/23  Photoreport from section 4 (current progress is 60.5%).
12/29  This year's final set of pics covers the area around the limit between sections 2 and 3.