Ten years after the project was approved, only 52 kilometers of the 415-km highway have been finished, while the project currently has no fixed date for completion. In 2010, only 10 kilometers were inaugurated.
For the 52 kilometers, the state allotted 5.6 billion lei (EUR1.2 billion), more than half of the funds needed for the entire project.
The Transilvania highway, which links Brasov to Bors, was approved in 2003 and started in 2004, based on a EUR2.2 billion contract signed with U.S. company Bechtel.
Amid constant political disputes and lacking financing from the state budget, the investment was developed at slow pace. The contract with Bechtel was renegotiated so that the company will finish only two sections of the highway, with the remaining ones to be auctioned off. Authorities promised the Suplacu de Barcau-Bors sector would be opened to traffic in November 2012.
On the other hand, an official document reveals authorities won’t be able to keep their promise due to lack of money.
“Because of the scarce funding allotted for 2012 (…) Bechtel has reduced work speed as from May 2012. Therefore, the deadline for the opening of the 18 kilometers of the Suplacu de Barcau-Bors section, set for 2012, can’t be observed,” reads the document.
According to the source, the budget allotted to the Transylvania highway for this year stands at RON347.6 million and was entirely exhausted by the beginning of September. The project’s debts amounted to RON187.2 million in September.
Romania has about 300 kilometers of highway. (EUR1=RON4.5742)