Highways in Romania

Highways in Romania. The white middle line depicts sections in use, dotted middle line depicts sections under construction, while light green represents proposed expressways.

Controlled-access highways in Romania are dual carriageways, grade separated with controlled-access, designed for high speeds. In 2012, legislation amendments defined two types of highways: motorways (Romanian: Autostrăzi) and expressways (Romanian: Drumuri expres).

The main differences are that motorways have emergency lanes and the maximum allowed speed limit is 130 km/h (81 mph), while expressways do not and the speed limit is 100–120 km/h (62–75 mph).[1]

The EU accession of the country in 2007 and the improved utilization of the allocated EU funds in recent years, enabled Romania to speed up the expansion of its highway network. There are no toll roads, but a vignette is required, except for municipal roads.

There are 790 km of motorways currently in use.

Only A2 is completed, while A1 is mostly completed with significant sections currently being built. A3 has two large segments that are currently in use, but most of it is still only planned, with only a small part under construction. A10 will likely be the next completed highway, while A4, A6 and A11 currently have only small segments in use. Plans to extend the current network include seven other motorways, but none are likely to be completed in the near future.

Motorways

Motorways are identified by A followed by a number. There are few tolls for using roads in Romania. There is one at the Giurgeni – Vadu Oii Bridge over the river Danube on highway DN2A at Vadu Oii and one at the Cernavodă Bridge, on the A2 motorway, a 17 km long section between Feteşti and Cernavodă which consists of two road/railway bridges. Nevertheless, every owner of a car that uses a motorway (A) or a national road (DN) in Romania must purchase a vignette (rovinietă) from any of the main petrol stations or at any post office throughout the country.[2]

History

The construction of the first motorway in Romania began in 1967, and the first segment of the A1 motorway, from Pitești to the capital Bucharest was opened in 1972 with a total length of 96 km. Until the collapse of the communist regime in 1989, the building of the second motorway between Bucharest and Constanta had been planned, but only an 18 km long segment of A2 from Fetești to Cernavodă, opened in 1987, was completed. The transition from a centralized economy to a market economy severely limited investment into infrastructure projects, and the entire motorway network totaled 113 km for decades until the construction project of A2 was resumed in 1998.

Actual construction began in 2001 on three segments of A2, and in 2004 these finally opened: Bucharest – Fundulea 26.5 km, Fundulea – Lehliu 29.2 km, Lehliu – Drajna 41.6 km. Another segment opened in 2007: Drajna – Fetești 36.6 km, while the A1 motorway was extended also in 2007 with the Pitești bypass (13.6 km). Also in 2004, a large sector of A3, termed "Transylvania Motorway", was awarded controversially without bidding to the American Bechtel Corporation. Large cost overruns and delays ensued for this project, and after political controversies, most of the contracts were cancelled, and only the Cluj bypass (Gilău – Turda and Turda – Câmpia Turzii segments) of only 51.7 km were opened between 2009 and 2010, at much larger costs than initially signed in the contract.

After joining the European Union in 2007, Romania was able to access funds for infrastructure development more easily, especially for those part of the Pan-European Corridor IV overlapping with A1 and A2 motorways. Many segments of the A1 motorway were started, and by the end of 2011, the A1 segments Timişoara – Arad (32.3 km), Sibiu bypass (17.5 km), and A2 segment Murfatlar – Constanţa (14.6 km), together with the A4 Constanta bypass (8.5 km) and A11 Arad bypass (12.3 km) were partially or fully opened.[3] By the end of 2012, the A1 the segment Deva – Simeria (14.8 km), the A2 segment Cernavodă – Murfatlar (36.6 km) and the final segment of the A4 Constanța bypass (11.2 km) were completed. The first A3 segment not completed by Becthel, the Bucharest – Ploieşti (55.5 km) was also opened that year. At the end of 2013, more segments of A1 were finalized, including parts of Lugoj – Deva (17.3 km), Sibiu – Orăştie (60.0 km), Orastie – Simeria (17.7 km) and the adjacent first sector of A6 Balinț – Lugoj (11.4 km), and the final segments of the A4 Constanta bypass (2.1 km). In 2014 and 2015, more A1 segments were opened between Sibiu – Orăştie (22.1 km), Arad – Nadlac (38.9 km), and Timisoara – Lugoj (35.8 km), for a total of 726.6 km of motorways in use in Romania in December 2015.

Political debates and changes in priorities of left-leaning parties after 2014 greatly slowed down motorway projects. In 2016, there were no new segments opened, with a small segment part of Lugoj – Deva (15.2 km) opening in 2017, for a total of 761.4 km in use.[4] In July 2018, two segments of the A10 motorway, between Aiud and Turda, opened to traffic, bringing the total to 790.2 km. Currently, two other segments of the A10 motorway are in execution, together with all the remaining segments of A1 (excluding Piteşti – Sibiu) and segments of A3 near Bucharest and between Târgu Mureş and Câmpia Turzii.

Year 1972 1987 2004 2006 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 2018 2019 (est.) 2020 (est.)
Opened km 96 18 97 37 14 42 27 71 128 119 51 48 15 38 100 100
Total km 96 113 210 247 261 303 330 402 529 638 688 735 751 789 900 (est.) 1000 (est.)

Future projects

Currently the only completed motorway is A2, with A10 likely being the next one to finish around 2019-2020. The unfinished segments of A1 and A3 are in various stages of planning and construction, with several segments likely to finish by 2022-2025. There are no active planned projects for extending the current A4, A6 and A11 motorways that are in usage, as only projected long-term plans are envisioned in various infrastructure masterplans.[5]

A few other motorways have received active discussion, including a termed A0 Bucharest Motorway Ring Road as an outer ring to the Bucharest Ring Road. The A7 Ploiești–Bacău Motorway has been planned to be part of the Pan-European Corridor IX, but currently only plans of a Bacau bypass (16 km) are being actively pursued. Beyond Pașcani, the Corridor IX is envisioned to be covered by the A8 East–West Motorway. Plans have been brought forward to link Craiova to A1 through an A12 motorway. Highways crossing the Carpathian Mountains have been delayed due to large costs, with debates on whether to build A3 (through long-term concession contracts) or A1 (EU funds would cover most of the cost). Regardless, an A13 Făgăraș–Sibiu Motorway has been viewed as an alternative to link A1 and A3. Also, A5 as a Brașov–Bacău Motorway has been mentioned as a link between Moldova and Transylvania. A9 is planned to link A1 to Serbia.[5]

Next scheduled openings[6]
  • October 2018: A3 Bucharest-CB (6 km)
  • December 2018: A1 Deva - Ilia (22 km); A3 Iernut - Ungheni Airport (14 km)

List

Motorways in Romania[7][8]
Motorway From Route To Planned (km) In service (km) Initial opening
Transcarpathia Motorway		 Bucharest Bucharest Ring Road – Pitești – A12 – A13 – Sibiu – A10 – Deva – A6 – Lugoj – Timișoara – A11 – Arad Nădlac → Hungary 576 400 1972
Bucharest–Pitești (110 km), Sibiu–Deva (132 km), and Margina-Nădlac (158 km) sections are fully operational. Works are ongoing on the Deva–Margina segment (56.8 km) and will be finished by 2022 the latest. Most of Pitești–Sibiu (120 km) construction contracts are being auctioned (4 of the 5 segments).
Sun Motorway		 Bucharest Bucharest Ring Road – Fetești – Cernavodă – A4 Constanța 203 203 1987
Operational on the entire length since 2012, first fully completed motorway in Romania.
Transylvania Motorway		 Bucharest Bucharest Ring Road – A7 – Ploiești – A13 – Brașov – A5 – Sighișoara – Târgu Mureș – A10 – Cluj-Napoca – Zalău – Oradea – A11 Borș → Hungary 603 117 2009
Only Bucharest Ring Road–Ploiești (56 km) and Câmpia Turzii–Gilǎu (52 km) sectors are operational. Bucharest Ring Road–Bucharest (6.5 km), Targu-Mures–Câmpia Turzii (55 km) segments are due in 2018–2019. Suplacu de Barcău – Borș (64.5 km) and Brașov–Rasnov are scheduled to begin construction. Status of the Brasov–Targu Mures segment remains unclear, as the Brașov–Fagaras segment has been assigned as part of the A13 motorway.
Constanța bypass		 Braila Tulcea – Ovidiu – A2 – Port of Constanța – Agigea – Mangalia Vama Veche → Bulgaria 60 22 2011
Only Constanța bypass is complete, between Ovidiu and the Port of Constanța. Agigea – Vama Veche section are not being actively pursued.
A5 motorway		 Brașov A3 – A7 Bacău 158 0 —
Intended as a link between Transylvania and Moldova.
A6 motorway		 Lugoj A1 – Lugoj – Drobeta-Turnu Severin Calafat → Bulgaria 260 11 2013
Opened only as the Lugoj bypass from the junction with A1[9] It is intended as the southern branch of the Pan European Corridor IV and will connect Lugoj with Calafat, Sofia, Athens and Istanbul.
Moldova Motorway		 Ploiești A3 – Ploiești – Buzău – Focșani – A5 – Bacău – A8 – Pașcani – Suceava Siret → Ukraine 440 0 2021 the earliest
Construction of Bacău bypass (16 km) started in 2018 and will take at least 3 years. Initially planned as part of the former route of Pan-European Corridor IX (Giurgiu–Bucharest Ring Expressway–Urziceni–Buzău–Râmnicu-Sărat–Focșani–Tecuci–Bârlad–Huși–Albița), but since 2014 plans in favor of a motorway past Focșani were scrapped for an expressway towards Bacău to join A8 near Pașcani. The new route of A7 from Ploiești to Siret will have about 440 km, 290 km of which for the A7 section from Ploiești to Pașcani.
East–West Motorway		 Târgu Mureș A3 – Târgu Neamț – Sovata – A7 – Pașcani – Iași Ungheni → Moldova 318 0 —
East–West motorway between regions of Transylvania and Moldavia. Feasibility studies conducted in 2009-2011; feasibility studies revision and update contracted in 2015.[10] It has a length of around 320 km and starts at A3 join near Târgu Mureș, passes through Pașcani (join with A7), and ends at Iași (border with Moldova). The section between Târgu Neamț - Iași (102 km) is in the feasibility studies revision process, and optimistically might have a preliminary delivery date around 2023.
A9 motorway		 Timișoara A1 – Timișoara – Moravița Moravița → Serbia 92 0 —
Intended to link Timisoara with Serbia's motorway network.
Mureș-Arieș Motorway		 Sebeș A1– Alba Iulia – Aiud – A3 Turda 70 29 2018
Aiud–Turda completed on 30 July 2018, while construction is progressing on all other segments and are due to be opened by 2020 the latest.
A11 motorway		 Arad A1 –Arad – Oradea – Junction with DN7 – A3 Oradea 116 3 2011
Only junction with A1 is finished, but it is planned to eventually reach Oradea.
Oltenia Motorway		 Pitești A1 – Pitești – Slatina – Bals Craiova 121 0 —
Mentioned in the 2014 Masterplan, with Slatina and bypasses.[11] Construction contracts is due to be assigned in 2018, with completion deadlines around 2021.
Făgăraș–Sibiu Motorway		 Brașov A3 – Făgăraș – A1 Sibiu 128 0 —
A link between A1 and A3 has been discussed, link which could provide an alternative for crossing the Carpathian Mountains. Some sources include the Brasov-Bacau section of A5 as part of A13. Feasibility studies are currently underway for Sibiu-Fagaras sector (72 km)
Bucharest Ring Motorway		 Bucharest A1 – A3 – A2 Bucharest 101 0 —
Intended to serve as an outer ring to the existing Bucharest Ring Road. First segment awarded for construction was on the southern half in 2018, and due to be completed by 2022.[12]

Expressways

Planned expressways according to CNADNR (Romanian National Company of Motorways and National Roads):[11][13]

Planned expressways in 2014[14]
Expressway Route Nickname Remarks
DX1 București – Alexandria Valahia alternative to A6
DX2 Craiova – Drobeta-Turnu Severin – Lugoj Danubia extension of A6
DX3 Pitești – Râșnov – Brașov Brașovia linking A1 and A3
DX4 Cluj-Napoca – Dej (DX4A: Bistrita, DX4B: Baia Mare) – Satu Mare Someş connections to Hungary (Dorolț) and Ukraine (Halmeu); 20 km built
DX5 Buzău – Focșani – Bacău (DX5A: Piatra Neamț) – Pașcani – Suceava (DX5B: Botoșani) Siret alternative to A7
DX6 Focșani – Brăila – Galați Milcovia linking A1 and A3
DX7 Târgoviște – Ploiești – Buzău – Brăila (DX7A: Focșani) – Galați Muntenia alternative to A7, linking it to A1
DX8 Brăila – Tulcea – Constanța Dobrogea alternative to A4
DX11 Otopeni – A3 Coandă link to the Henri Coandă Airport

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ce este un drum expres si cum se aseamana sau se deosebeste de o autostrada" (in Romanian). Hotnews.ro. 30 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Rovinieta 2012 Taxa de Drum si Tarife Rovinieta 2012". Ghidtransport.ro. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  3. ↑ http://www.zf.ro/eveniment/autostrada-spre-litoral-este-de-20-de-ani-in-constructie-dar-va-fi-finalizata-abia-in-2011-5275732/
  4. ↑ "Prezentarea generală a reţelei de drumuri". CNADNR. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  5. 1 2 http://www.130km.ro/articol43.html
  6. ↑ http://www.130km.ro/calendar.html
  7. ↑ http://www.cnadnr.ro/ro/proiecte/autostrazi-pregatire
  8. ↑ http://www.automarket.ro/stiri/pe-hartie-totul-este-perfect-lista-autostrazilor-si-drumurilor-expres-pe-73593.html
  9. ↑ "Primul lot al Autostrazii Lugoj - Deva, deschis circulatiei in plina noapte, cu o intarziere de noua luni". Hotnews. 23 December 2013.
  10. ↑ "Autostrada A8 Targu Neamt - Iasi: Autostrada care ar urma sa lege Iasul cu Targu Neamt". Hotnews.ro. 9 March 2015.
  11. 1 2 "Roads Masterplan 2014" (PDF). CNADNR. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  12. ↑ https://monitorizari.hotnews.ro/stiri-infrastructura_articole-22417379-autostrada-centura-sud-capitalei-fost-desemnat-cstigatorul-pentru-constructia-unui-lot-17-5.htm
  13. ↑ "Construcţie drumuri expres". CNADNR. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2010.
  14. ↑ https://monitorizari.hotnews.ro/stiri-infrastructura_articole-19343352-harta-master-planul-transport-2-0-drumuri-autostrazi-avea-romania-cat-vor-costa-vezi-modificari-aparut-fata-varianta-initiala.htm
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