With the economy expected to grow by 1.5% this year to EUR124 billion, highway construction is set to account for around 0.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP). On the other hand, works on highways will amount to nearly 8% of the value of the local construction market, of EUR9 to EUR9.5 billion.
The ZF analysis takes into consideration both the seven construction sites where works are currently under way (Bucharest – Moara Vlasiei, Moara Vlasiei – Ploiesti, Medgidia – Constanta, Arad – Timisoara, Deva – Orastie, the Arad beltway, and the Constanta beltway), as well as the nine sections where works are set to start in August, according to the latest statements from representatives of the Transportation Ministry (two segments of the Nadlac – Arad section, two segments of the Timisoara – Lugoj section, one Lugoj – Deva segment and two Orastie – Sibiu segments).
ZF did not take into consideration the Suplacu de Barcau – Bors section (64 kilometers) on the Transilvania highway because the pace of works is slow due to the fact that no funds have been allocated for this section this year.
The cumulated value of contracts for these highways amounts to around EUR2.2 billion, with money for these projects being allocated both from the state budget, from loans from the European Investment Bank, and from EU funds.
Although hundreds of millions of euros will go into the construction of highways this year, as well, the results will not match the investments. 2011 could see the opening of partly completed sections, as well as of Moara Vlasiei-Ploiesti highway, which covers 42.5 kilometers.