Romanian Transports Ministry Needs RON3.16B For Transylvania Hwy

Bechtel is currently working on the final ten kilometers of the Campia Turzii-Gilau segment and the 64 km-long Suplacu de Barcau-Bors segment. The highway’s constructor has gradually reduced the pace of work on the two sections, because of the state’s debts, says a Transports Ministry document.

By the end of April, the Ministry had paid Bechtel RON607.6 million. The state’s debts to the American company presently stand at RON394 million.

The Campia Turzii-Gilau segment is 55 km long, of which 42 km were completed last year. Bechtel also built the two kilometer-long viaduct on the Suplacu de Barcau-Bors segment last year.

Transports Minister Radu Berceanu said last week that the Ministry’s priorities are, in order: projects built with non-refundable European money, then projects funded by foreign banks, followed by projects financed by the state budget. The Transylvania Highway is financed exclusively with public money. The minister suggested Bechtel should take out a loan to fund the work on the Turda-Campia Turzii and Gilau-Nadasel segments.

Prime Minister Emil Boc said in March that work on the highway would continue this year, particularly on the Turda-Campia Turzii and Gilau-Huedin sections.