Bechtel To Build 42 Km Of Transylvania Hwy In ’09 If Auth Relocate Utilities

Bechtel spokesperson Bogdan Sgarcitu told media on Wednesday that the Romanian state was supposed to relocate 38 utilities on the segment Gilau – Turda by April 30, but for eight of them works have not even begun yet.

“Work has not begun on eight utilities, four have not been completed, and other four works have begun, but are not yet finished. If the Romanian state keeps its promise and solves the relocation of utilities by August, then 42 kilometers of the highway will be completed by the end of 2009,” Sgarcitu said.

He added expropriations have been completed and 22 kilometers of the highway have been asphalted.

The construction of Transylvania Highway, linking the central Romanian city of Brasov to Bors, on the western border with Hungary, started in 2004 based on a EUR2.2 billion contract assigned to Bechtel. Works were halted mid-2005, when authorities started looking into contracts concluded under the previous government. Thus, the deadline for the completion of works was extended until 2013 from the initial 2012.

According to a protocol signed in February by the Transport Ministry and Bechtel, the American company has committed to complete 42 kilometers of the segment Campia Turzii- Gilau and the viaduct on the segment Suplacu de Barcau – Bors by the end of this year.

Mid-May, Prime Minister Emil Boc assured that the segment Campia Turzii- Gilau will be completed by the end of 2009. He said EUR119 million has been assigned this year to the Transylvania Highway and that funds to complete the respective segment are stipulated by the state budget.

The Transport Ministry will pay Bechtel this year EUR420 million, based on the protocol they signed.