The second phase of a rehabilitation project carried out on a section of Romania’s national road DN6 has been launched. The section is 127.1 km long and runs between the cities of Alexandria, in the South-Muntenia development region of the country’s Macroregion three, and Craiova, in the South-West Oltenia development region of Macroregion four.
- 30 November 2017
In the EU-funded project’s second phase, tasks cover 33 % of the building site for both phases. They include 24.55 km of earthworks, and work on 32.51 km of road structure and 48.01 km of traffic safety infrastructure. A total of 48 drainage devices, 29 culverts, which allow water to flow under the road, nine art works and three parking spaces are to be installed.
Along the route, arrangement takes place of 13 crossroads, together with side and access roads. Auxiliary works 11.11 km in length and relocation or protection of 48.01 km of public utility infrastructure are also included.
European Union funding to shorten journey times
Over both phases of the project, the total cost stands at close to EUR 157 million, of which more than EUR 138 million comes from European Union funds. For the first phase alone, the corresponding figures are around EUR 74.5 million and EUR 55.8 million respectively. For the second phase, the overall budget amounts to nearly EUR 98.13 million, of which EUR 61.8 million is from the European Union. The total eligible cost is EUR 82.5 million. Tolls paid by road users will help cover operating costs.
The road forms part of the Trans-European Transport Network and the work contributes to shortening average journey times on the network as part of the priority of developing a multimodal transport system of high durability, quality and efficiency. In normal, free-flowing road conditions, the time needed for journeys between Alexandria and Craiova is set to decrease by approximately 47 minutes, from around 2 hours and 29 minutes to about 1 hour and 42 minutes.
An important link between Bucharest and the Hungarian border
National road DN6 links Romania’s capital Bucharest with the Hungarian border at the village of Cenad in Timiș County, part of the West development region within Macroregion four. In addition to Alexandria and Craiova, it passes by the cities of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Lugoj and Timişoara, the third largest city in the country.
Craiova is the largest city in South-West Oltenia and the capital of Dolj County. With a population of around 270 000, it is also Romania’s sixth largest city. It is situated between the Carpathian mountains to the north and the River Danube some 60 km to the south, which forms the border with Bulgaria. The city is an important manufacturing centre for the Romanian automotive industry.
With some 45 000 inhabitants, Alexandria is the capital of Teleorman County. Located just over 30 km from the Bulgarian border, it lies on the River Vedea, a tributary of the Danube 224 km in length.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Rehabilitation of DN6 Alexandria - Craiova – phase II” is EUR 98 134 590, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 61 848 801 through the “Large Infrastructure” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.