Transport in Romania |
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Companies |
Public roads in Romania are ranked according to importance and traffic as follows:
Some of the national roads are part of the European route scheme. European routes passing through Romania: E58; E60; E70; E85; E79; E81; E68; E87 (Class A); E574; E576; E581; E583; E671; E771.
As of 31 December 2021, public roads totaled 86,199 km (53,562 mi): 17,530 km (20.3%) national roads, 35,096 km (40.7%) county roads and 33,573 km (39%) local roads. [1]
From the point of view of the type of cover, the structure of the public road network registers at the end of 2019 was: 38,166 km (44.2%) modernized roads (92.8% with asphalt pavements of heavy/medium type and 7.8% with concrete), 21,365 km (24.7%) with light asphalt road clothing, 17,831 km (20.6%) cobblestone roads and 9,021 km (10.5%) dirt roads. [2] Of all cobblestone and dirt roads 73% are local roads. [2]
Regarding the technical condition, 13,411 km (35.1%) of modernized roads and 9,217 km (43.1%) of roads with light road clothing have exceeded their "service life". [2]
Development of the overall length (at the end of):
Year | 1972 | 1987 | 2000 | 2002 | 2004 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Length in km | 96 | 113 | 113* | 113* | 228 | 262 | 262* | 304 | 332 | 390 | 530 | 635 | 685 | 711 | 732 | 748 | 806 | 850 | 914 | 946 | 996 | 1033 |
Motorways are identified by A followed by a number. As of September 2023, Romania has 1008 km of motorway in use, with another 199 km under construction. [3] In recent years, a master plan for the national motorway network has been developed and many works have begun around the country, [4] which will result in significant changes by 2015, [5] and eventually by 2022. [6]
There are few tolls for using roads in Romania. There is one at the Giurgeni – Vadu Oii Bridge over the river Danube on highway DN2A at Vadu Oii and one at the Cernavodă Bridge, on the A2 motorway, a 17 km long section between Fetești and Cernavodă which consists of two road/railway bridges. Nevertheless, every owner of a car that uses a motorway (A) or a national road (DN) in Romania must purchase a vignette (rovinietă) from any of the main petrol stations or at any post office throughout the country. [7]
Trunk Motorway | Route | Planned (km) / Built (km) | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
A 0 | Beltway around Bucharest | 100 / 9.5 | South Ring Road Motorway (48 km) under construction as of 2020. Construction contracts for 5 of the 7 segments have been signed, with first openings due in 2023. |
A 1 | Bucharest – Pitești – Sibiu – Deva – Lugoj – Timișoara – Arad – Nădlac → Hungary | 580 / 461 | Bucharest – Pitești (110 km), Boița – Coșevița (188 km), Margina – Nădlac (159 km) sections are operational. Between Boița–Nădlac, the tunnels from Holdea–Margina are under construction. The Boița–Sibiu section was opened at the end of 2022. |
A 2 | Bucharest – Fetești – Cernavodă – Constanța | 203 / 203 | Operational on the entire length; first fully completed Romanian motorway. |
A 3 | Bucharest – Ploiești – Brașov – Sighișoara – Târgu Mureș – Cluj-Napoca – Zalău – Oradea – Borș → Hungary | 596 / 201 | Bucharest – Ploiești (62.5 km), Râṣnov – Cristian (6.3 km), Târgu Mureș – Nădășelu (113 km), and Oradea – Borș (5.4 km) sectors are operational. The exits to DN73 at Cristian and DN15 at Târgu Mureș, while not part of A3, are built to expressway standards. Status of the Făgăraș–Târgu Mureș section (108 km) remains unclear. |
A 4 DEx4 | Ovidiu – Agigea – Mangalia – Vama Veche → Bulgaria | 270 / 22 | Constanța bypass complete as motorway and in use. Brăila–Constanța and Agigea – Vama Veche planned as expressway sections. The Brăila–Jijila section (19.095 km) is under construction, including the Brăila Bridge, and is likely to be extended with the Techirghiol bypass in the near future. |
A 5 | Bucharest – Giurgiu → Bulgaria | ~55 / 0 | Status unclear; "A5" originally used on Sibiu - Brașov. |
A 6 | Junction with A1 near Lugoj – Drobeta-Turnu Severin – Craiova – Alexandria – Bucharest | 450 / 11 | Operational between the junction with A1 and the Lugoj bypass. [8] Feasibility studies for Bucharest - Alexandria, Filiasi - Drobeta-Turnu Severin - Drobeta-Turnu Severin - Lugoj sections have been tendered. |
A 7 DEx7 | Junction with A3 near Ploiești – Bacău – Suceava – Siret → Ukraine | 436 / 16 | Bacău bypass (16 km) is operational. First contracts signed in 2022, with the earliest opening likely in 2024. Contracts for all sections from Ploiești to Pașcani have been tendered or signed, with funding mandating to be fully complete by 2026. Pașcani–Suceava–Siret segment is in planning phases, with the last segment from Milișăuți (near Rădăuți) to Siret possibly being designated as expressway. [9] |
A 8 | Junction with A3 near Târgu Mureș – Sovata – Târgu Neamț – Junction with A7 – Pașcani – Iași – Ungheni → Moldova | 311 / 0 | East-West motorway between Transylvania and Moldavia initially estimated to be first open in 2009. Feasibility studies conducted in 2009–2011; Feasibility studies revision and update contracted in 2015. First contracts to be tendered in 2023, and first openings by 2026. Planned to be completed by 2030. [10] |
A 9 | Junction with A1 near Timișoara – Moravița → Serbia | 92 / 0 | Intended to connect Timișoara to Serbia's motorway network, with possible first tendered construction contracts in 2023. |
A 10 | Junction with A1 near Sebeș – Alba Iulia – junction with A3 near Turda | 70 / 70 | Operational on the entire length since 2021. [11] |
A 11 DEx11 | Junction with A1 near Arad – Oradea – junction with A3 near Biharia | 118 / 2 | Only junction with A1 operational. The first expressway segment (Oradea bypass) likely to be opened in 2023. Additional tendering planned for 2023. The Oradea West bypass (18.96 km) is under construction, of which 16.035 km between Sântandrei - Biharia (A3) forms DEx11. |
A 13 | Junction with A1 near Sibiu – Făgăraș – Brașov – Sfântu Gheorghe – Onești – junction with A7 near Răcăciuni | 280 / 0 | Mentioned in the 2014 Masterplan; [12] intended as a link between southern Transylvania and Moldavia. First segments of the Sibiu-Brașov section were tendered in 2022; the other segments are in planning stages. |
A 14 DEx14 | Junction with A7 near Botoșani – Suceava – Vatra Dornei – Bistrița – junction of A15 near Dej – Baia Mare – Satu Mare – Oar → Hungary | 436 / 9 | The Satu Mare bypass was opened to expressway standards in 2022, 8.672 km being part of DEx14. Feasibility studies being completed for Satu Mare–Oar section, with likely tendering in 2023. Feasibility studies for Suceava–Baia Mare–Satu Mare (390 km) are in early planning stages, likely to be mostly built as expressways. |
Planned expressways according to CNADNR (Romanian National Company of Motorways and National Roads): [12] [13]
Expressway | Name | Route | Length (km) / in use (km) | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
DEx6 | Danube | Junction with A4 near Brăila – Galați | 11 / 0 | Tendered in 2021; likely opening date in late 2023-2024. |
DEx12 | Oltenia | Pitești – Slatina – Balș – Craiova | 121 / 39 | Initially intended to be constructed as a motorway. The first segment opened in 2022, with only Valea Mare–Spineni operational. All remaining segments are under construction. |
DEx4 | Someș | Petreștii de Jos – Cluj-Napoca – Gherla – Dej | 75 / 0 | First segment intended to be built is Petreștii de Jos - Tureni. |
Muntenia | Buzău – Făurei –Brăila | 98 / 0 | The triangle with A7 is closed by the Milcovia expressway. Undergoing feasibility studies. | |
Milcovia | Brăila – Slobozia Ciorăști (Focșani) | 79 / 0 | The triangle with A7 is closed by the Muntenia expressway. Undergoing feasibility studies. | |
DEx1 | Bessarabia | Mărășești – Bârlad – Albița | 160 / 0 | Intended as a connection between Bucharest and Chișinău. Was a government priority around 2010, but was disfavored towards the A8 project, and unlikely to have built segments in the near future. |
Vlad the Impaler | Găești – Târgoviște – Ploiești | 76 / 0 | The triangle with A7 is closed with the DX18, named Milcovia highway. Undergoing feasibility studies. | |
Bistrița | Berești-Bistrița (Bacău) – Piatra Neamț | 52 / 0 | Undergoing feasibility studies. | |
Jiu | Craiova – Filiași – Târgu Jiu | 110 / 0 | Will overlap A6 between Craiova - Filiași. Undergoing feasibility studies. | |
Total length of European routes in Romania at the end of 2019 is 6,176 km (3837.5 mi). [2]
Map of European routes passing through Romania
Total length (including European routes and Highways) of National Roads in 2019 is 17,873 km (11105.77 mi), [2] an increase from 17,272 km (10,732 mi) in 2015. [15] The majority of National Roads (DN) are single carriageway, with only 12.5% being dual carriageway. [2] A major problem being that many National Roads (drumuri naționale) have no ring roads around cities and towns, disrupting the traffic flow (i.e. making traffic condition more difficult).
In 2019 16,088 km (9,996 mi) of National Roads are asphalt concrete roads of heavy/medium type, 880 km (546.8 mi) concrete roads and 720 km (447 mi) of light asphalt road "clothing". [2] 54.7% of heavy/medium roads and 79.4% of light asphalt roads have exceeded their "service life" and are in need of some form of repair or replacement. [2]
Seven one-digit national roads start off in Bucharest in a radial pattern. [3]
National Road | Route | Length (km) | European System |
---|---|---|---|
DN1 | Bucharest – Ploiești – Brașov – Făgăraș – Sibiu – Alba Iulia – Turda – Cluj-Napoca – Oradea – Borș –> Hungary | 642 | E60 (Bucharest – Brașov) E68 (Brașov – Tălmaciu) E68/E81 (Tălmaciu – Sebeș) E81 (Sebeș – Turda) E60/E81 (Turda – Cluj-Napoca) E60 (Cluj-Napoca – Oradea) |
DN2 | Bucharest – Urziceni – Buzău – Focșani – Bacău – Roman – Fălticeni – Suceava – Siret –> Ukraine | 482 | E85 (entire route) |
DN3 | Bucharest – Fundulea – Lehliu Gară – Călărași – Ostrov – Basarabi – Constanța | 260 | |
DN4 | Bucharest – Oltenița | 72 | |
DN5 | Bucharest – Giurgiu –> Bulgaria | 65 | E70 (entire route) E85 (entire route) |
DN6 | Bucharest – Alexandria – Caracal – Craiova – Drobeta-Turnu Severin – Caransebeș – Lugoj – Timișoara – Sânnicolau Mare – Cenad –> Hungary | 639 | E70 (Bucharest – Timișoara) |
DN7 | Bucharest – Găești – Pitești – Râmnicu Vâlcea – Sibiu – Deva – Arad – Nădlac –> Hungary | 597 | E81 (Bucharest – Tălmaciu) E58/E81/overlap with DN1 (Tălmaciu – Sebeș) E68 (Sebeș – Nădlac) |
DNCB | Bucharest ring road | 82 | |
DNCT | Timișoara ring road | 12 | |
In 2009, a total of 35,048 kilometres (21,778 mi) of county roads (of which 24,100 km paved and 10,948 km gravel roads) and 30,162 kilometres (18,742 mi) of local roads (of which 6,043 km paved and 24,119 km gravel roads) existed in Romania. [16]
At the end of 2019 there are 35,083 km (21,799 mi) of county roads and 33,435 km (20,775 mi) of local roads. [2]
Out of the 35,083 km: 13,810 km (39.4%) are asphalt concrete roads of heavy/medium type, 13,227 km (37.7%) light asphalt road "clothing", 956 km (2.7%) concrete roads, 5,310 km (15%) cobblestone roads and 1,706 km (4.8%) dirt roads. [2] Regarding the technical condition, 23% of asphalt concrete roads of heavy/medium type and 48% of light asphalt roads have exceeded their "service life" and are in need of some form of repair or replacement. [2]
Out of the 33,435 km: 7,418 km (22.1%) are light asphalt road "clothing", 5,506 km (16.5%) asphalt concrete roads of heavy/medium type, 810 km (2.4%) concrete roads, 12,377 km (37%) cobblestone roads and 7,305 km (21.8%) dirt roads. [2] Regarding technical condition, 31% of light asphalt roads and 10% of asphalt concrete roads of heavy/medium type have exceeded their "service life" and are in need of some form of repair or replacement. [2]
Transportation infrastructure in Romania is the property of the state, and is administered by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Constructions and Tourism, except when operated as a concession, in which case the concessions are made by the Ministry of Administration and Interior.
Căile Ferate Române was the state railway carrier of Romania. The company was dissolved on October 1, 1998 by splitting into several successor companies. As of 2014, the railway network of Romania consists of 10,777 km (6,697 mi), of which 4,029 km (2,504 mi) (37.4%) are electrified. The total track length is 22,247 km (13,824 mi), of which 8,585 km (5,334 mi) (38.5%) are electrified. The CIA World Factbook lists Romania with the 23rd largest railway network in the world. The network is significantly interconnected with other European railway networks, providing pan-European passenger and freight services. CFR as an entity has been operating since 1880, even though the first railway on current Romanian territory was opened in 1854. CFR is divided into four autonomous companies:
The A1 motorway is a partially built motorway in Romania, planned to connect Bucharest with the Banat and Crișana regions in the western part of the country and the rest of Europe. When completed it will be 581 kilometers long and it will span the country on the approximative south-east to north west direction. The motorway starts in the western part of Bucharest and connects the following major cities: Pitești, Sibiu, Deva, Timișoara, Arad, reaching Hungary's M43 motorway near Nădlac. As the motorway is built along the Trans-European Transport Networks Rhine-Danube Corridor the construction receives 85% funding from the European Union. The road is part of the proposed Via Carpatia route.
The A2 motorway, also known as The Motorway of the Sun, is a motorway in Romania which links Bucharest with Constanța, a city-port on the shore of the Black Sea, where it merges after an interchange into the A4 motorway. It is 206 km long, and has been operational on its entire length since November 2012.
European route E 79 is a road part of the International E-road network. It begins in Miskolc, Hungary and ends in Thessaloniki, Greece, also running through Romania and Bulgaria. The road is 1,300 km (810 mi) long.
The A8 motorway, also known as The Union Motorway or the East-West Motorway is a planned motorway in Romania, that will cross the Eastern Carpathians to connect the historical regions of Moldavia and Transylvania.
The A7 motorway, also known as the Ploiești–Siret Motorway or the Moldavia Motorway, is a partially built motorway in Romania, that upon completion will link Ploiești to the north-eastern part of the country, partly along the Pan-European Corridor IX. It will run along the route: Buzău, Focșani, Bacău, Roman, Pașcani, and Suceava, connecting to Ukraine's M19 highway near Siret.
Radu Mircea Berceanu is a Romanian engineer and politician. A member of the Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L), he was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Dolj County from 1990 to 2004, and sat in the Romanian Senate from 2004 to 2012, representing the same county. In the Radu Vasile and Mugur Isărescu cabinets, he was Minister of Industry and Commerce from 1998 to 2000; in the first Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu cabinet, he was Minister of Transport, Construction and Tourism from 2006 to 2007; and in the Emil Boc cabinet, he was Minister of Transport and Infrastructure from December 2008 to September 2010. From October to December 2009, he was also acting Minister of Agriculture following the political crisis that led to the withdrawal of the Social Democratic Party from government.
DN5 is an important national road in Romania which links Bucharest with the southern country border with Bulgaria by the Giurgiu Russe Friendship Bridge.
The A3 motorway is a partially built motorway in Romania, planned to connect Bucharest with the Transylvania region and the north-western part of the country. It will be 596 km long and will run along the route: Ploiești, Brașov, Făgăraș, Sighișoara, Târgu Mureș, Cluj-Napoca, Zalău and Oradea, connecting with Hungary's M4 motorway near Borș.
The A4 motorway is a motorway in Romania that serves as a bypass for the city of Constanța, between Ovidiu and the Port of Constanța, connecting with the A2 motorway via an interchange southwest of the city. It is 22 km long and is planned to be extended to approximately 60 kilometers, stretching further south to the Bulgarian border south of Mangalia, along the western Black Sea coast. The motorway is part of an extension of the Pan-European Corridor IV, that will be connecting with the Bulgarian city of Varna.
The Bucharest Ring Motorway, termed A0, is a motorway ring in construction around the city of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It is intended to be the outer ring to the existing Bucharest Ring Road.
The DEx12 expressway, also known as the Pitești–Craiova Expressway, is a partially built expressway in the south-western part of Romania, previously labelled as A12, when it was considered as a future motorway. It will connect the cities of Pitești, Slatina and Craiova, being 121 km long, with an estimated total cost of 1.66 billion euro.
Controlled-access highways in Romania are dual carriageways, grade separated with controlled-access, designed for high speeds. There are two types of highways, motorways and expressways, with the main difference being that motorways have emergency lanes and slightly wider lanes. The maximum allowed speed limit for motorways is 130 km/h (81 mph), while for expressways the limit is 120 km/h (75 mph). There are no toll roads, but a road vignette is required.
The A10 motorway, also known as the Sebeș–Turda Motorway, is a motorway in the central-western part of Romania, connecting the A1 and A3 motorways, between the cities of Sebeș and Turda, also providing access to Alba Iulia and Aiud. It is 70 km long, with a total cost of 420 million euro, which is financed in proportion of 85% from the European Union funds, the rest of 15% being insured from the state budget. The motorway's construction was divided into four lots: works for lots 3 and 4 began on 20 May 2014, whereas for the other two lots began in 2015.
The A6 motorway is a partially built motorway in Romania, planned to connect Bucharest with the Banat region, through the southern part of the country. It will follow the route: Craiova, Calafat, Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Lugoj, connecting with the A1 motorway near Balinț. The section between Balinț and Calafat, where it will provide access to the New Europe Bridge, is part of the southern branch of the Pan-European Corridor IV.
The Sibiu–Brașov–Bacău Motorway is a planned motorway in the central part of Romania, designed to connect Sibiu and Bacău counties, via Brașov. The project is currently regarded as composed of three sections Boița – Făgăraș, Făgăraș – Brașov, and Brașov – Răcăciuni, planned to be 282 kilometres (175 mi) long.
Currently, there are three defined types of public roads in the Republic of Moldova:
The Meseș Tunnel is a future automotive tunnel located near Zalău, in Sălaj County, Crișana, Romania, which is planned be part of the route of the A3 Transylvania Motorway, specifically the Poarta Sălajului - Zalău segment (12,9 km). It is named after the Meseș Mountains, the mountain range belonging to the Apuseni Mountains, which forms part of the Carpathians. When completed, it will be the longest road tunnel in Romania, being 2.89 kilometres (1.80 mi) long,
Since 2018, there have been proposals for the building of a motorway in Moldova between Ungheni and Chișinău, and from there to the border with Ukraine towards Odesa, as an extension of the Romanian A8 motorway from its eastern terminus near Iași. The total cost of the project is 1 billion euro, for a total length estimated to be at around 220 km (140 mi). The motorway would serve as an extension to the future motorway corridor Iași–Cluj-Napoca–Budapest–Vienna–Munich.