Infrastructure : Trans-Carpathian motorways to be ready by 2018
Transport Minister Ioan Rus promises his ministry will extensively deal with trans-Carpathian motorways over the coming years, to provide strong links between the Romanian provinces by the centenary of the country's union, in 2018.
'From a strategic perspective, the ministry will extensively deal in the coming period with the trans-Carpathian [motorways]. So with Sibiu - Pitesti, Comarnic - Brasov and Targu Neamt - Valea Larga -Targu Mures, so that in 2018 we try to really have solid trans-Carpathian links, one hundred years after the Great Union,' Rus said on Friday in Alba County (northwest of Bucharest).
He added that in 2016 there will be roughly 400 kilometres of uninterrupted motorway to the western border, from Cluj Napoca to Nadlac.
'So in 2016 we will have Cluj - Sebes, Sebes - Deva, Deva - Lugoj, Timisoara - Arad - Nadlac and a first westward exit from Romania on a continuous motorway. Some 400 kilometres,' the minister underlined.
He added that 350 kilometres of motorway will also go from Sibiu towards Nadlac in 2016, and the motorway section between Campia Turzii and Targu Mures will be built next year, too.
'I am talking about the need for high interconnectivity, about needing [a motorway] between Sebes and Turda, too, but this is a part of a bigger project. And Targu Mures will be also connected through there, because the Campia Turzii - Targu Mures segment will be done next year, too. So from 2015 we will have large pieces of motorways visible or with clear effects to those driving motor vehicles in Romania. They are all practically contracted. So it's just a matter of monitoring things,' Rus declared.