A significant step forward in the construction of the Union Highway (A8) was taken on Friday, as the National Company for Road Infrastructure Investments (CNIR) signed the contract for the design and execution of section 3 Lețcani (DN28) – DN24 (Iași).
The contract, awarded to the Spanish company FCC Construccion, has a value of 3.93 billion lei without VAT and is financed through the European program SAFE, an instrument created to enhance Europe’s security and resilience.
The section is part of the Union Highway, a project that will connect Moldova to Transylvania and is considered one of the most important infrastructure investments in Romania.
CNIR: We will not accept delays
The General Director of CNIR, Gabriel Budescu, stated that the constructor's experience is an advantage, but the execution deadlines are already very tight.
“It is a constructor with solid experience in large infrastructure works, one of the largest in Spain and with a relevant portfolio of works in Romania. Nevertheless, we draw the attention of all entrepreneurs that the deadlines for the A8 highway are already tight, and we will not accept any deviations from the contractual terms,” Budescu declared.
He emphasized that with the issuance of the commencement orders, authorities expect a rigorous planning of the works.
“Each contract signed for the A8 highway strengthens the European dimension and the strategic value of this project, which, for the first time, will exceed Romania's borders,” added the CNIR chief.
Highway belt for the north of Iași
The Lețcani - DN24 section will practically function as a highway standard belt for the northern part of the city of Iași.
The project is one of the most complex on the A8 route and includes 18 bridges and passages, six tunnels, a tunnel monitoring center, and two major road junctions, at the intersections with DJ 282 and DN24.
The total duration of the contract is 46 months, of which 10 months are allocated to design and 36 months to execute the works.
"A major investment for Romania's security"
CNIR representatives stated that the development of the Union Highway goes beyond the scope of a simple investment in road infrastructure.
“The development of the A8 highway in Iași County means more than just infrastructure: it means connection and mobility to European standards, bridging the development gaps between historical regions, and a major investment for Romania's security,” they pointed out.
According to CNIR, the project is the result of collaboration between several state institutions, including the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Council for Settlement of Appeals.
Another contract on A8 financed through SAFE
The signing of the contract for the Lețcani - Iași section comes just one day after awarding the first section of the Union Highway financed through the European program SAFE.
On Thursday, CNIR signed the contract for the Târgu Neamț - Târgu Frumos section, 27 kilometers long, an investment of nearly 4.9 billion lei. The contract was won by the association formed by the Romanian constructor UMB and the Bosnian company Euro Asfalt.
The SAFE program is the European instrument created to enhance the security and resilience of the European Union, and Romanian authorities argued that the Union Highway also has a strategic component through its role in military mobility and connecting the Moldova region to European transport corridors.
According to CNIR, other segments of the A8 in the Iași area, including the Iași - Golăiești and Golăiești - Pod Ungheni sections, are in various stages of contracting procedures and are also targeted for financing through SAFE.