Romania could open over 233 kilometers of highways and express roads by the end of this year. There are 15 high-speed road sections that, if completed on time, would make 2026 a record year for road infrastructure.
According to a working document from the Ministry of Transport, obtained by News.ro, the projects target highways A7, A0, A3, and A1, as well as the express road Brăila-Galați.
However, the authorities' plan is viewed with skepticism by the Pro Infrastructură Association. The organization's president, Ionuț Ciurea, warns that some deadlines are too optimistic and that the progress of the construction sites will depend on funding, the pace of work, and the mobilization of the builders.
A7 and A0, projects with the highest chances
According to the Ministry of Transport's working document, by the end of the year, sections of the following are expected to be opened:
- Moldova Highway (A7), between Focșani, Bacău, and Pașcani;
- Bucharest Ring Road (A0);
- Transylvania Highway (A3);
- Sibiu-Pitești Highway (A1), on the Tigveni – Curtea de Argeș section;
- Brăila-Galați Express Road.
Ionuț Ciurea believes that A7 and A0 have the highest chances of being inaugurated.
“When it comes to inauguration, the goal is – and it's feasible, albeit difficult – to open A7 to Bacău by the end of August”, he says.
In his opinion, the continuation towards Săbăoani could only be completed by the end of the year in an optimistic scenario, while the sections between Bacău and Pașcani have lower chances of being inaugurated in 2026 and could be postponed to the spring of next year.
Funding, one of the major unknowns
The Pro Infrastructură representative says one of the biggest question marks is related to funding for the works after the completion of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. “The Plan ends in August. The Plan goes up to Bacău”, Ciurea explains.
According to him, after this date, the continuation of some projects will depend on other sources of funding. In the absence of these, some of the deadlines set for 2026 may be postponed.
Bucharest Ring Road will be opened gradually
The Bucharest Ring Road is one of the projects with the highest chances of advancing by the end of the year, but not all sections will be able to be inaugurated simultaneously.
Ciurea says that section 4 of A0 North, between Pantelimon and Glina, is practically completed but cannot be used because it is not connected to neighboring sections. He describes it as a true “museum”, meaning a highway built but cannot be used until the necessary connections are completed.
In road infrastructure, a completed section does not automatically mean it can be opened to traffic if underpasses, road junctions, or connections to other sections are missing.
In the scenario considered realistic by the Pro Infrastructură Association:
- some segments of A0 could be inaugurated at the end of August or in September;
- the rest could be opened towards the end of the year.
In the case of section 1 of A0 North, between Mogoșoaia and Corbeanca, Ciurea estimates that traffic could first be opened on the sector between DN1A and DN1 by the end of summer, and the full inauguration of the section could take place in November-December, if no technical issues arise.
Transylvania Highway, between chances and challenges
The Transylvania Highway is also on the list of projects that could be inaugurated this year.
The highest chances are for:
- sections between Nădășelu, Zimbor, and Poarta Sălajului;
- the stretch Suplacu de Barcău – Chiribiș.
However, the works are complicated by route deviations and terrain issues, so any delays could push the inauguration to 2027.
For the Nădășelu-Zimbor-Poarta Sălajului section, Ciurea says everything depends on the pace of work in areas where the route had to be altered due to landslides. If the builder's mobilization is maintained, the opening could take place in November or December.
He is more optimistic about the Suplacu de Barcău-Chiribiș stretch, where he believes the works could be completed by the end of September, even though the contractual deadline has been exceeded.
Brăila-Galați Express Road
Among the projects included in the Ministry of Transport's plan is the Brăila-Galați Express Road. “It will be inaugurated two years late,” says Ionuț Ciurea, recalling that the initial completion deadline was in 2024.
However, he believes there are chances for the express road to be open to traffic by the end of the year.
Which sections are included in the Ministry's plan
The Ministry of Transport's document includes:
- A7 Focșani – Bacău: sections 2 and 3;
- A7 Bacău – Pașcani: all three sections;
- A0 Bucharest North: sections 1, 3, and 4;
- A3 Transylvania: Nădășelu – Mihăiești, Mihăiești – Zimbor, Zimbor – Poarta Sălajului, Românași junction, and Suplacu de Barcău – Chiribiș;
- A1 Sibiu – Pitești: Tigveni – Curtea de Argeș section;
- Brăila – Galați Express Road.
A new record year?
In the past two years, the pace of highway inaugurations has significantly accelerated. After only 13.5 kilometers opened to traffic in 2023, Romania inaugurated nearly 200 kilometers of high-speed roads in 2024, and another 146 kilometers in 2025.
If all projects included in the Ministry of Transport's plan are completed on time, 2026 could become the new record year for Romania's road infrastructure. However, it remains to be seen how many of the deadlines set by the authorities can be met.