This was reported by Romania’s National Company for Road Infrastructure Management (CNAIR).
The bridge connecting the towns of Sculeni in the Republic of Moldova and Sculeni in Iasi county was opened in 1964 and has not undergone significant changes since then. Although the infrastructure was expanded after 1989 and some maintenance works were carried out, it no longer meets modern traffic requirements. With its old and deteriorated structure, the bridge poses a problem in terms of road safety, especially with the increasing increase in traffic.
The Moldovan and Romanian authorities have reached an agreement to launch a reconstruction project that will have a significant impact on the region not only in terms of infrastructure, but also economic development and mobility between the two countries.
Currently, the Sculeni Bridge is used daily by thousands of vehicles, including trucks transporting goods between Moldova and Romania. Its complete reconstruction will allow the construction of a wider and safer bridge capable of handling heavier traffic, with multiple lanes. The project will also include significant improvements to the access roads and adjacent infrastructure.
The reconstruction idea belongs to CNAIR and is being implemented in parallel with the construction of the Ungheni Bridge – these works will start at the end of this month.
The demolition and reconstruction of the 115-meter bridge will obviously involve some difficulties. First of all, it is necessary to provide an alternative route for automobile traffic. In addition, close cooperation between the Moldovan and Romanian authorities will be required to minimize the discomfort of residents and those who pass through the area on a daily basis.
During the works, which are estimated to last 42 months, traffic will be diverted to a temporary bridge to be built 24 meters downstream of the existing bridge. After construction of the new bridge, the temporary bridge, which is 195 meters long, will be removed. The construction of the temporary bridge will require clearing an area of 800 square meters on the Romanian side and 910 m2 on the Moldovan side. CNAIR states that the affected land will be restored to its original state.
The technical project for the reconstruction of the Sculeni Bridge was implemented by NV Construct from Cluj-Napoca and is in the process of obtaining the necessary approvals for the issuance of the construction permit.
The preliminary total cost of the works and the sources of financing are not disclosed.
