The second phase of construction of part of the Lugoj to Deva section of Romania’s A1 motorway, between the village of Dumbrava and the city of Deva, is underway. The road runs through Timiș and Hunedoara counties, both of which are situated in the West development region of the country's Macroregion four.
Upgrades made to motorway links in western Romania
- 02 October 2017
The road to be built under the project is 71.88 kilometres in length and forms part of the core Trans-European Transport Network. It is a dual carriageway, with two transport lanes running in either direction separated by a central reservation.
Work in phase two includes construction of five bridges and 58 grade-separated junctions and overpasses. Six viaducts and six tunnels and crossings for wildlife are also to be built.
Work on roadways, bridges and drainage systems
Over both phases, the project features earthworks and their consolidation, and the laying of the road foundations and base, binder and wearing courses, which are the different layers of the roadway. Hydraulic works and the installation of drainage systems and culverts for channelling water underneath the road are other aspects of the work.
Construction of bridges includes laying of foundations, and erection of superstructures and elevation infrastructure including abutments – the substructures at the ends of a bridge – and piers – intermediate supports for adjacent ends of bridge spans. Access ramps for bridges are also to be built.
Further tasks entail organisation of the site, road design, freeing up of land from encumbrances, installation of traffic safety infrastructure and motorway facilities, relocation of public utility networks and auxiliary works.
Cutting journey times and fostering economic development
By strengthening road links within the core Trans-European Transport Network, the project contributes to increasing mobility and road safety and supporting the development of a single European transport area. Once the road is completed it will shorten journey times between Dumbrava and Deva by approximately 21 minutes, from 68 minutes to 47 minutes. Better transport links should also help to make western Romania a more attractive destination for business and investment, thereby contributing to economic growth and creation of jobs in the region, as well as strengthening Romania’s territorial cohesion.
The total budget for the first and second phases of the project is more than EUR 563 million. For the second phase alone, costs amount to around EUR 469.5 million. The total EU contribution for this phase comes to just over EUR 336 million. The project will generate revenue in the form of tariffs paid by road users.
When finished, the A1 motorway will be some 400 kilometres long and run from Romania’s capital, Bucharest to the town of Nădlac in Arad County, on the border with Hungary. As well as Lugoj and Deva, it will pass by cities including Pitești, Sibiu, Sebeș, Orăștie, Timișoara and Arad.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Construction of Lugoj-Deva Motorway lot 2, lot 3 and lot 4 (section Dumbrava – Deva) – phase 2” is EUR 469 580 351, with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 336 063 762 through the “Large Infrastructure” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.