Skip to main content

A key section of highway is now open in Romania

In Romania the northern section of the bypass around the city of Constanta is open to traffic. The bypass forms part of the Pan-European Road Corridor IV and work on this section was financed by the European Bank for reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The southern stretch of the 23km bypass was completed in 2011. Now it is complete, the bypass will carry heavy port traffic away from Constanta. It will also provide a free-flowing route for tourist traffic from Romanian capital Bucharest and the north of
July 26, 2012 Read time: 3 mins
RSSIn Romania the northern section of the bypass around the city of Constanta is open to traffic. The bypass forms part of the Pan-European Road Corridor IV and work on this section was financed by the 1166 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The southern stretch of the 23km bypass was completed in 2011. Now it is complete, the bypass will carry heavy port traffic away from Constanta. It will also provide a free-flowing route for tourist traffic from Romanian capital Bucharest and the north of the country to the seaside resorts south of Constanta. The work in this area also includes the rehabilitation of 10 major bridges in the Constanta region, and the reconstruction of part of the national road network, which was damaged by the severe floods in 2005. The EBRD is financing this important infrastructure project with a €145 million 16-year loan provided in 2005, the Bank’s largest investment in Romania at that time. Part of the loan, equivalent to €56 million, was extended in Romanian Lei currency to mitigate the risk foreign currency devaluation.

The project is part of a larger infrastructure modernisation programme, including the modernisation of the Cernavoda-Constanta section of the Bucharest-Constanta Motorway, co-financed by the 1054 European Investment Bank, the Romanian government and EU cohesion funds.

“We are delighted to see the northern Constanta bypass open to traffic today. This new modern road built with the support of the EBRD will help relieve congestion in the Constanta area, thus reducing travel times, and will reduce pollution considerably,” said Claudia Pendred, EBRD Director for Romania.  

"The opening of the northern Constanta bypass, which is the final section of the Bucharest-Constanta highway, will provide a direct link at its southernmost end to the port of Constanta.  Improving access to the port, which is the largest port in Romania, will also have important implications for regional development in this key economic area of the country and eastern Europe," added Sue Barrett, EBRD Director for Transport.

Supporting the modernisation of infrastructure in Romania remains a key priority for the EBRD. The Bank is currently working to support projects that facilitate the absorption of EU structural and cohesion funds.  

The EBRD is the largest investor in Romania and has invested over €5.8 billion in various sectors of the economy, including €1.2 billion in infrastructure projects.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Rwanda highway Rwanda's major highway construction aids regional integration
    April 16, 2012
    Shem Oirere reports on plans for a major highway to Rwanda to other parts of Africa Construction of a 78km highway stretch that links Rwanda to the rest of Eastern Africa will start in May. State Minister in Charge of Transport Dr Alex. Nzahabwanimana said the contract for the US$54 million project has already been awarded to German construction company Strabag International.
  • Chinese funding will help pay for Macedonia road project
    October 4, 2013
    In Macedonia a new 50km section of highway will be constructed, with €574 million of financing coming from China's Export-Import Bank. The Exim Bank credit line to Macedonia will be used to build a the highway connecting Skopje and Stip. The new route will also link Stip with pan-European transport corridor 10. The loan will carry an interest rate of 2% and will have a 20 year term with a five year grace period. Macedonia is close to completing work on the corridor 10 road project, which is worth €300 milli
  • Building Georgia’s transport connections to its neighbours
    October 26, 2016
    Georgia’s government aspires to turn the country into a regional transport-transit hub, and with renovated and expanded transportation infrastructure it knows that the country can offer significant opportunities to others in the region, and globally – Gordon Feller writes The Caucasus Transit Corridor (CTC) is the key transit-route between Western Europe and Central Asia for oil and gas, as well as dry cargo. CTC is part of TRACECA (TRAnsport Corridor Europe to Central Asia). This is the shortest route
  • East Africa’s dream of a ‘Silk Road’ in sight
    October 22, 2021
    East Africa’s dream of a ‘Silk Road’ route to boost trade and transport is now in sight