Strategic corridor: Romania opens bidding for final A8 highway link to Moldova
Romania and Moldova have entered a decisive phase of infrastructural integration with the launch of the tender for the final segment of the A8 Unirii Highway.
This project includes the first highway kilometers ever constructed on Moldovan soil, funded through strategic European Union partnerships.
Strategic link to the eastern border
State Secretary for the Romanian Ministry of Transport, Irinel Scrioșteanu, confirmed that the National Agency for Public Procurement (ANAP) has validated the documentation for the Târgu Neamț–Iași–Ungheni section. This critical segment connects the existing Romanian network to a new bridge over the Prut River, currently under construction.
The contract, valued at approximately €945 million (4.7 billion RON), spans 46 months. This timeline allocates 10 months for the design phase and 36 months for execution, with funding provided via the Security Action for Europe program.
Dual-use infrastructure for regional security
The project is designed as dual-use infrastructure, serving both civilian economic development and military mobility requirements. "We are building civilian infrastructure that can support military movements if necessary," Scrioșteanu explained, noting that the first five kilometers of highway across the border are included in the plan.
Beyond road connectivity, the initiative features a significant railway component. This includes a link to a new intermodal hub and the electrification of the first railway segment in the Ungheni region, heading toward Chișinău.
Timeline for completion
The centerpiece of this corridor, the Ungheni Bridge over the Prut, began construction on April 1, 2025. Officials expect the bridge to be fully operational by autumn 2026, creating a vital artery between Bucharest and the Moldovan border.
A joint Romanian-Moldovan border checkpoint will be established on the Romanian side. This facility is engineered for high efficiency, aiming for a streamlined transit time of approximately 10 minutes for travelers and freight.
A record-breaking year for regional transit
The expansion comes as Romania sees a rapid increase in its high-speed road network. By the end of 2025, the country will have added 146 km of new motorways, bringing the national total to 1,418 km. Projections for 2026 suggest a historic peak, likely surpassing the 200 km record set in 2024.
