Moldova-Romania highway bridge 50% complete
Construction on the first highway-level bridge over the Prut River in over 60 years has officially reached the halfway mark. The strategic infrastructure project, linking Zagarancea in the Republic of Moldova to Ungheni in Romania, will provide a direct connection to the forthcoming A8 Highway.
Funded by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility with €35 million (approx. 686 million MDL), the bridge is scheduled to open to cross-border traffic by April 2027. This progress perfectly aligns with the initial two-year construction timeline established when ground was broken on April 26, 2025.
Construction progress and technical details
Roughly 40 workers are currently assembling the bridge’s metal superstructure, a critical phase that dictates the overall safety of the viaduct. Romanian State Secretary for Transport Irinel Ionel Scrioșteanu confirmed that the metal deck installation on the Moldovan side will commence on May 5, aiming to complete the entire superstructure within three months.
The 261-meter viaduct will consist of two parallel structures, each providing two traffic lanes alongside dedicated pedestrian sidewalks. Engineering teams on the Romanian bank are advancing rapidly, already preparing the running surface pathways that will soon link the two nations.
Strategic impact and regional connectivity
Often dubbed the "Bridge of Flowers" in reference to historical cross-border openings, the new transit route will drastically reduce travel times. Mircea Păscăluță, Moldova’s State Secretary for Infrastructure and Regional Development, noted that the journey from Ungheni to Bucharest will drop to roughly five hours, effectively halving current transit times.
Beyond logistics, local residents anticipate the infrastructure will bring major economic and social benefits by integrating the region more deeply into the European Union. Upon completion, the project will guarantee Moldova's direct and rapid connection to the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
Translation by Iurie Tataru
