The A7 highway is being built parallel to the old E85 route, which was considered one of Romania’s most dangerous roads due to its high accident rate. The new highway will have two lanes in each direction and modern interchanges without at-grade intersections.
The route will pass through Buzău, Focșani, Bacău, Roman, and Pașcani, and its northern section will continue on to Suceava and the Ukrainian border.
The final 100 km are of particular importance to Ukraine: they will extend the highway toward the Ukrainian border. In addition, Romania plans to widen approximately 14 km of the highway—already on Ukrainian territory—to four lanes.
Built with European Funding
The A7 project began long before the full-scale war in Ukraine. The first 320 km were financed, in part, by European funds. The project’s total budget exceeds 7 billion euros.
Romania is opening completed sections. Part of the highway is 80–85% complete, while other sections are nearly 60–80% complete. The main 320 km are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, and the entire highway will then be put into operation in phases by 2029.
What This Means for Ukraine
The main advantage of the A7 for Ukraine is a new overland route to Romania and the port of Constanța. Since the start of the full-scale war, Constanța has become one of the key transshipment points for Ukrainian cargo. Through the Romanian port, Ukraine can export grain, metal, and other products, as well as receive imported goods.
The new highway will reduce cargo delivery times and provide an alternative to traditional routes through Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. This is particularly important during periods when borders are blocked or there are issues with Black Sea ports.
The new highway is also important from a security perspective. The road project is designed to accommodate heavy equipment, so once construction is complete, it can be used not only by civilian vehicles.
For Ukraine, this means the rapid transport of cargo and military aid from southern Europe. After the war, the same route can be used to deliver materials and equipment needed for Ukraine’s reconstruction—unfortunately, bypassing the Republic of Moldova.
