Second Danube bridge construction approved

Official approval is now being given for changes to the agreement between the Bulgarian authorities and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for the second Danube bridge project. So far the EIB is providing €50 million, with €5 million having already been used. The Bulgarian authorities are agreeing to accept a shorter loan period of 14.5 years rather than the 17-year term originally agreed with the EIB.
May 15, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Official approval is now being given for changes to the agreement between the Bulgarian authorities and the 1054 European Investment Bank (EIB) for the second Danube bridge project.

So far the EIB is providing €50 million, with €5 million having already been used. The Bulgarian authorities are agreeing to accept a shorter loan period of 14.5 years rather than the 17-year term originally agreed with the EIB.

The bridge is being built between Vidin in Bulgaria and Calafat in Romania, and the Spanish company 4914 FCC was appointed as the design and build contractor for the main bridge works, while the French-British consortium 1559 Ingerop/1554 High-Point Rendel was appointed as the engineer to carry out independent supervision and design check.

Meanwhile plans to tackle Bulgarian capital Sofia’s congestion problems by building overpasses are being put on hold. A €45 million loan is being provided by the EIB for the work, although the Bulgarian authorities are unable to supply the €43 million co-funding necessary.

Work on only one of the overpasses, at the Mladost Quarter, will now start during 2010 and the Bulgarian authorities may have to approach the EIB for further loans for the project.

Road Structures

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • High Struma motorway tender interest
    May 11, 2012
    The tender to construct of the Struma motorway in Bulgaria has attracted interest from several international companies. The near US$130million EU funded project, which will link the Bulgarian capital Sofia with the Greek border, is expected to be completed within 27 months of the day a successful bidder is announced. Among companies interested in the project are Greek firms Aktor, GEK Terna and J&P Avax; Spanish firm FCC Construction; Bulgarian company SK 13 Patstroy; Strabag of Austria; and the Italian fi
    Read More
  • The drive for US road funding: will corporate America get a seat?
    September 13, 2017
    Trumponomics aims to use public money for pump-priming an even greater amount of cash from the private sector to improve America’s crumbling roads. But is political will matching corporate America’s enthusiasm for more private investment, asks David Arminas If there were ever a test case for comparing public-private partnerships and design-build contracts, the recently completed Ohio River Bridges Project is it (see previous article).
    Read More
  • New Algerian routes
    November 27, 2012
    A major new expressway will link Tizi-Ouzou in Algeria to the country’s East-West highway. The local authorities have been given a budget of US$623 million for the project. The expressway will connect to the East-West highway at Bouira. The project forms part of the 2010-14 five year plan and is required as the existing route linking Tizi-Ouzou to the East-West highway, the TN 12, is now carrying more vehicles than it was designed for. Meanwhile a feasibility study has been completed for a new six-lane high
    Read More
  • Framework solutions speed bridge construction
    February 24, 2012
    Framework plays a key role in construction of bridges and other major infrastructure works – Mike Woof writes Speeding construction processes can help reduce costs considerably and the latest formwork solutions can provide significant benefits in this regard. In many projects the use of standardized and modular formwork solutions can play a key role, reducing the planning and systems required for bridge building work.
    Read More

Highlighted Content