Almost 30 kilometers of new sections of the Transylvania Highway could be opened to traffic by the end of this year, approximately five months ahead of the contractual deadline. This concerns the Chiribiș – Biharia section, in Bihor County, where the works have exceeded 85%, and the contractor has started laying the final layer of asphalt.
The news is even more significant as the neighboring section, Suplacu de Barcău – Chiribiș, spanning 26.35 kilometers, is nearing completion. If both sections are inaugurated by December, drivers will be able to travel uninterrupted on approximately 74 kilometers of highway, from Nușfalău to the border with Hungary at Borș II.
Horatiu Cosma, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Transport, announced on Monday that works on the Chiribiș - Biharia sector have entered a decisive stage, and authorities hope to open the traffic before the end of 2026.
"If the weather allows us to maintain the work pace, we have the chance to pleasantly surprise Romanians and open the traffic by the end of this year, approximately five months ahead of the contractual deadline," Horatiu Cosma conveyed in a Facebook post.
How much work is left
According to the data presented by the Transport official, the stabilized gravel layer is fully completed, the first asphalt layer has been laid to 95%, and the second layer is 65% complete.
The contractor has also started laying the final wearing course, while the metal guardrails have been installed to nearly 50% completion.
The overall physical progress of the works has exceeded 85%. "We still have work to do, but the finish line is becoming clearer. Our goal is to drive on the highway by the end of the year!" Cosma specified.
The section is being built by the Precon Transilvania - Citadina 98 association, part of the Selina group. The contract is worth approximately 785 million lei, with a contractual completion date in May 2027.
Another 26 kilometers, almost ready
Works on the Suplacu de Barcău - Chiribiș section, spanning 26.35 kilometers, are also nearing completion. According to data presented by Horatiu Cosma on September 30, the physical progress has exceeded 90%, and the final asphalt layer has already been laid on 20 kilometers.
The contractor, Construcții Erbașu, is focusing on the final works, especially in the area of the former oil drilling field at Suplacu de Barcău and near the 1.8-kilometer viaduct over the reservoir. Two overpass bridges over the highway, earth embankments, and asphalt works are yet to be completed.
The Secretary of State announced that the objective is to open the traffic on December 1, 2026, Romania's National Day.
The Pro Infrastructure Association also estimated that the section could be inaugurated even in November.
Why these openings are important
Completing the two sections, totaling almost 55 kilometers, would allow continuous traffic on the Transylvania Highway between Nușfalău, in Sălaj County, and the Borș II border point at the Hungarian border, spanning approximately 74 kilometers.
Currently, only about 5.3 kilometers of highway are open to traffic near the Hungarian border between Borș II and Biharia. There is another highway section open between Nușfalău and Suplacu de Barcău, but the two portions are not yet connected.
Both sections currently under construction have a complicated history. Works began during the contract period with the American company Bechtel, followed by years of blockages, terminated contracts, and abandoned construction sites.
On the Chiribiș - Biharia section, works were resumed after a long period of stagnation, and the contractor is now trying to complete the highway before the contractual deadline.
If the plans announced by the Ministry of Transport materialize, approximately 55 new kilometers of the Transylvania Highway could be opened to traffic by the end of 2026.