The National Road Infrastructure Company (CNIR) announced last weekend that it is starting the design of a new express road, 73.5 kilometers long, which will connect Focșani to Brăila.
It’s good news, but not one that will change the traffic situation anytime soon.
Almost all major infrastructure projects start with an optimistic announcement. And at this moment, dozens of express roads are already in the design phase. The issue is not the number of projects in preparation, but the fact that we are not able to finish even those already under construction on time.
An eloquent example is the Brăila–Galați Express Road, which still does not have a definite inauguration date, even though the section currently under construction was supposed to be completed last year.
The design of the new express road Focșani–Brăila, 73.5 kilometers long, will start on December 2, providing a connection between "the Moldova Highway A7 – the Danube Bridge in Brăila, the Brăila–Galați Express Road, Tulcea, and Constanța," as announced by CNIR.
Over the next three and a half years, the design and execution will be handled by the SA&PE Construct S.R.L. Association (leader), Spedition UMB, Tehnostrade S.R.L., and Arcada Company. The first two companies are part of the businessman Dorinel Umbrărescu's group, while Arcada Company is owned by Spiru Mantu and Mihai Humă.
The funding will come from non-reimbursable European funds through the Transport 2021–2027 Program.
The Stake: Focșani–Tulcea and Focșani–Galați Corridors
An express road between Focșani and Brăila is generally welcomed.
Currently, Dorinel Umbrărescu's companies are also building the 10.76 km express road between Brăila and Galați. When both roads are completed, drivers will be able to travel from Focșani to Brăila on a high-speed road. From there, the bridge over the Danube will provide continuity to Tulcea, and the express road will allow quick access to Galați.
Improving conditions will be significant for light traffic, especially for freight transport. It will be a real progress when we can use it.
However, for now, Dorinel Umbrărescu's companies cannot quickly start a new project, given that the Brăila–Galați Express Road is still delayed. The Ministry of Transport has announced the inauguration several times without the works being completed.
What's Holding Back the Brăila–Galați Express Road?
CNAIR signed the contract for the Brăila–Galați Express Road, 10.7 km long, with the SA&PE Construct – Spedition UMB – Tehnostrade Association in April 2021. The profile consists of four lanes (two per direction) with a maximum speed of 120 km/h. The initial execution deadline was 34 months.
Works started in the fall of 2021 but are not yet completed today.
In March 2025, Sorin Grindeanu - then Minister of Transport - announced that the physical progress had reached 90% and that the inauguration was scheduled for the summer. However, the summer passed, and the express road was not inaugurated. Subsequently, the Ministry of Transport stated that the inauguration would take place this autumn.
Even this deadline is no longer realistic: the works on the cable-stayed bridge on the route are not finished.
Ionuț Ciurea, the Executive Director of the Infrastructure Pro Association (API), says that there is no chance the road will be inaugurated in 2025 and criticizes the repetition of unrealistic promises.
"I don't even know... maybe I live in a parallel universe. Wasn't that cable-stayed bridge promised for last year? Then, wasn't it promised for this year, several times? It seems so!
It won't be inaugurated this year. Certainly, the bridge is a bit more demanding. Because the cables need to be installed, tensioned... And besides all that needs to be done there, such as laying asphalt, there are also tests to be done. It's over for this year!
It remains for next year. When next year? Well... when the constructor wants!", stated Ionuț Ciurea, for spotmedia.ro.
According to him, in 2024 - an electoral year - Dorinel Umbrărescu's companies delivered works with quality compromises, and now they benefit from term extensions, not penalties.
We Have Plans. But Will We Have the Money Too?
Ionuț Ciurea also points out the underlying problem: the state's capacity to finance major projects.
"For example, on the Transport Program, out of the eligible costs - which do not cover the entire actual cost - the state contributes 60%, and European grants represent 40%.
The ineligible costs - such as expropriations and utility network relocations - are usually concentrated, mostly in the early part of the contract.
The basic rule is that you need to have payment power. Both in the short term, as you need to pay the bills in full and only then recover your money from European grants. And in the long term, because, as I said, on the Transport Program, significantly less than 50% of the amounts are returned to you.
Moreover, we might find ourselves in 2028 with many ongoing roads - perhaps even the Focșani–Brăila Express Road, towards the end of the Transport Program. And we will have a problem because there are many projects that will consume a lot of money...", Ionuț Ciurea further explained.
How Many Express Roads Do We Have and How Many Are in Preparation?
The only long-distance express road open in Romania is Craiova–Pitești (121 km).
Additionally, there are several short segments built as express roads, such as the 4.96 km between DN1 and A3 in Tureni or the 13 km linking the Oradea Beltway to A3.
Furthermore, Romania has over 1,154 km of express roads in preparation - mainly feasibility studies.
According to the Projects in Progress Status presented by CNIR, these include:
- Filiași – Drobeta Turnu Severin → 82 km
- Satu Mare – Baia Mare → 55 km
- Brăila – Tulcea → 61.63 km
- Buzău – Brăila → 111 km
- Ovidiu – Tulcea → 121 km
- Ploiești – Găești → 81.5 km
- Suceava – DN2H – Siret → 55.7 km
- Tișița – Albița → 140 km
- Domașnea – Caransebeș → 45 km
- Cluj – Dej → 69.5 km
- Satu Mare – Hungary border → 10.9 km
- Craiova – Târgu Jiu → 110 km
- Bacău – Piatra Neamț → 51 km
- Caransebeș – Lugoj → 50 km
- Bucharest – Târgoviște → 61 km
You can find all details - with designers, deadlines, and observations for each project - here.
So, we have plenty of plans. It remains to be seen if we will find the money and administrative capacity to build these roads.