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Infrastructure: EC approves allocation of 47 million euro for Craiova-Calafat road infrastructure
The European Commission announced on Thursday that it had approved to allocate 47 million euro from the European Fund for Regional Development to develop road infrastructure between Craiova and Calafat, in the south-west of Romania. National road DN56, which is part of the Trans European Network (TEN-T) is the only connection between Craiova and Calafat-Vidin bridge, linking Bulgaria and Romania.
Calafat-Vidin bridge, also called the New Europe Bridge, is considered of strategic importance for EU and represents a vital link for the priority route starting from Northern Europe, crossing central Europe, Romania and Bulgaria to reach Greece. Investments for the construction of the second bridge between Romania and Bulgaria amounted to 106 million euro. The modernized road infrastructure between Craiova and Calafat will improve access to the bridge and will stimulate economic growth and competitiveness in the area.
Improving connections with Calafat-Vidin bridge in Romania will set important opportunities for the development,of business, research, local communities and public services both in the Romanian and Bulgarian border areas. The modernization of the road will significantly reduce travel time both for passengers and goods, stimulating the economic development of Romania and Bulgaria, said Johannes Hahn, the commissioner for regional policy.
The project called “Rehabilitation of DN56 Craiova-Calafat” will modernize 80 km of the road linking the towns of Craiova and Calafat. The investment is part of priority axis 2 “Convergence” of Romania’s Sector Operational Transport Program. EU will finance the project by means of the European Regional Development Fund with 47 million euro of a total investment of 55.4 million euro. 270 new jobs will be created in the project implementation stage.
Funds of 19.7 billion euro were allocated for Romania over 2007-2013 as part of the cohesion policy.