Construction works may finally kick off at Romania's new motorways

The government is initiating again the procedures for the construction of Sibiu-Pitesti, Targu Mures-Iasi and Comarnic-Brasov motorways. "I believe that it is possible this year we initiate all that means procedures in the case of the Sibiu-Pitesti, Targu Mures-Iasi and Comarnic-Brasov motorways, so that construction works may finally kick off” says Prime Minister Victor Ponta. 

“I am not sure how long it will take, however, and how many times the Court of Appeal will return the plans back to the National Council for Solving Complaints, to the National Company of Motorways and National Roads and back to the National Authority for Regulating and Monitoring Public Procurement" the Prime Minister said, when asked what was his current opinion about the "bet" that in 2018 Romania will have a motorway that will cross the Carpathians. According to the Transport Master Plan, the construction of the Sibiu-Pitesti motorway will start in 2017. 

Asked whether he had a preference for the Comarnic-Brasov motorway, as opposed to the Sibiu-Pitesti one, Ponta said "both are equally necessary, given that they serve different economic purposes." "Of course, corridor IV is a European corridor and of course that we need the Sibiu-Pitesti motorway. On the other hand, while referring to the Comarnic-Brasov motorway, Bucharest will also be blocked. We cannot all go through Sibiu. This is why they are both important and we cannot talk about a competition here (...) especially that they are financed from different sources," the Prime Minister said. 

Ponta admitted that the surcharge for fuels was not a good project for the motorways, for the government didn't manage to unblock the procedures and invest the money, although, on the other hand, the measure did create "a tax space."