The ten leading construction sites advanced by an average 8% from May 1 to June 1, according to a ZF analysis of data supplied by roads authority CNADNR. Some constructors sped up work, helped by the good weather in May, because the same average progress of 8% was recorded before over a three-month period, between February 1 and May 1.
This is the fifth time in the past few months that ZF monitors the progress of the ten leading construction sites in Romania, in a bid to offer an image on the progress of works.
The most spectacular advance was recorded by the Cernavoda-Medgidia section, built by Italy’s Astaldi and Germany’s Max Boegl. So, while the actual stage of execution was 22% on May 1, it leaped to 54% on June 1. The final deadline is estimated to be January 2013, but the Transport Ministry says on July 20 it will open this section for traffic on one lane in each direction. This section was the subject of a major scandal one year ago, after the Transport Ministry decided to terminate the contract with France’s Colas, the company then in charge of building Cernavoda-Medgidia.
Section 2 of the Nadlac – Arad highway, which is 16.6-km long, advanced by almost 13% in one month, and is built by Austria’s Alpine.
On the other hand, the first section of the Nadlac-Arad highway, which is 22.2-km long, is progressing at a much slower pace, of less than 1% in May. This section is built by Romania’s Romstrade (controlled by Nelu Iordache) alongside Portugal’s Monteadriano and local-held Donrep Construct (controlled by Dragos Niculae). This section continues to have the lowest stage of execution out of all highway sections under construction on Pan-European Corridor IV: only 4.6%, although it should be opened for traffic in April next year . Romstrade representatives did not answer ZF’s question as to the slow pace of works on section 1 of the Nadlac-Arad highway.
A slow progress was also recorded on the Suplacu de Barcau – Bors section, built by US Bechtel: under 0.5% in May. In fact this highway also advanced slowly between February 1 and May 1: by 0.08%. The roads authority did not provide information on the amount paid by Bechtel by June 1, but according to the latest information, at the beginning of February the roads company had paid EUR267 million out of a total contract of EUR527 million.
The roads authority had paid until the beginning of June around EUR1.3 billion by the beginning of June for the 17 highway construction sites in Romania, whose overall value amounts to around EUR2.6 billion, according to ZF calculations based on information from the roads authority.
The end of July should bring the opening of traffic on the Bucharest-Ploiesti highway (less the portion between Soseaua Pipera road and Bucharest’s ring road), while on Autostrada Soarelui highway (the Cernavoda-Medgidia section will be open for traffic only on one lane per each direction. This summer should come with another first for Romania: the first highway finalized ahead of deadline – Timisoara-Lugoj, lot 1, 9.5-km long. One of the constructors of this section, Spedition UMB (controlled by Dorinel Umbrarescu) recently told Ziarul Financiar that this section would be open for traffic by the end of July.
Bucharest-Moara Vlasiei Highway
Works on the Bucharest-Moara Vlasiei highway progressed only 1.5% in May, although the section was supposed to be ready on June 30. On the 6.5-km stretch between Bucharest and Bucharest’s ring road works are 8% completed, from 5% at the beginning of May. The remaining 13 km between the ring road and Moara Vlasiei are 97.5% ready. Companies working on this highway are Italy’s Pizzarotti and Tirrena Scavi.
Recently transport minister Ovidiu Silaghi visited the Bucharest-Ploiesti construction site and said the highway would be ready by August 1, but even then with speed restrictions.
Moara Vlasiei – Ploiesti highway
The Moara Vlasiei-Ploiesti highway, built by Spedition UMB (controlled by Dorinel Umbrarescu), Euro Construct Trading 98 (Dan Besciu and Sorin Vulpescu) and PA&CO International (Costel Casuneanu), advanced by around 3% in May. Several deadlines have been given in the last year for the completion of this highway. Spedition UMB, which has been working on the section between km 48.2 and 62, finished construction last year, Pa&Co International is fitting traffic barriers, while Euro Construct Trading is in the stage of pouring asphalt and fitting safety barriers.
Deva-Orastie highway
The Deva-Orastie highway recorded one of the highest advances in May, of over 8%. The Simeria-Orastie (almost 18 km) section is set to be opened for traffic in August this year, with works on the Simeria-Deva section (almost 15 km) to be finalized in February of next year.
The constructors of the highway are Austria’s Strabag and Straco Grup, controlled by brothers Alexandru and Traian Horpos.
Arad-Timisoara highway
The around 32 km-long Arad-Timisoara highway, was opened for traffic in December last year, although it wasn’t completed, with the maintenance center as well as the service space platform to be finalized in the second half of the year.
On June 1, the execution stage was almost 99%, similar to the one on May 1, according to roads authority data.
The section is built by Spain’s FCC Construccion and Italy’s Astaldi. Speed limits of 100 km/h are currently in place for traffic safety reasons, says the roads authority.
Arad’s bypass
Arad’s bypass, built at highway standards, was opened for traffic on June 6 in both directions, but the speed limit is 100 km/h.
Arad’s highway-standard ring road is set to be ready shortly. “June 22 is the estimated deadline for completing the works and the ring road will be delivered to the authorities, as provided by law, within 15 days from completion of works,” according to the roads authority.
Speed limits have not been lifted by the roads authority. The constructors are Spain’s FCC Construccion and Austria’s Porr Technobau.
Nadlac-Arad highway, section 2
The Nadlac-Arad highway is divided into two sections, with work under way on both sections. The second, 16.6-km section is built by Austria’s Alpine and is almost 35.8% completed, up from 23% at the beginning of May. The first, 22.2-km section, was 4.57% ready on June 1, an advance of less than 1%.
Cernavoda-Medgidia highway
The highway is half-built, according to data from the roads authority. In fact the progress of this construction site is the most spectacular recorded lately, given that construction companies working on this section progressed 32% in one month. The estimated deadline for the completion is January 23, but the Transport Ministry says on July 20 it will open this section for traffic on one lane for each direction. This section was the subject of a major scandal last year, when the Transport Ministry terminated the contract with builder Colas. Afterwards the contract for building this section was awarded to the consortium made up of Max Boegl and Astaldi.
Medgidia-Constanta highway
The section, which is part of the Bucharest-Constanta highway, advanced by around 5% against May 1.
This section of the highway, which should have been ready in July, is built by Germany’s Max Boegl and Italy’s Astaldi. The highway is 85% ready.
Constanta’s bypass
The highway-standard bypass of Constanta advanced by around 4% in May. The ring road is built by Spain’s FCC Construccion in partnership with Italy’s Astaldi and works are set to be finalized on October 30, according to the roads authority.
Suplacu de Barcau-Bors highway
The slowest rate of progress of all construction sites examined by Ziarul Financiar was recorded for the Suplacu de Barcau – Bors highway, built by US Bechtel.
While between November 2011 and January 2012 the actual stage of works had advanced by almost 8%, to over 49%, the rate slowed down significantly after the winter months.
Works on this highway are set to be finished by the end of next year, according to the latest information supplied by the roads authority.
A few months ago the institution said 18 km of the highway’s 64 would be finalized in November 2012, with the rest to be ready in 2013. Bechtel had collected around EUR267 million by February 1 for the Suplacu de Barcau-Bors highway. The roads authority did not provide information on the overall amount paid to the US company by May 1.
(English version by Daniela Stoican)