​The bridge across the Danube from Breila is taking shape every day, and the latest pictures taken from the construction site are truly impressive. The apron is completely finished, in many places, finishing touches are already being made. However, all this time the builder is in a race against time: the bridge itself may be ready by the end of the year, but it may remain a very expensive “museum” if the connecting roads are not completed by then. .

New drone footage shows the Braille Bridge, which is now near completion, from multiple angles.

After the metal deck segments were raised, they were welded together, and workers are now carrying out waterproofing, paving and finishing work.

After that, the cables will be pulled and the final tests will be conducted. Safety tests will begin immediately after the completion of the construction of the bridge, respectively after the installation of the parapet, the application of markings and the installation of safety and lighting systems.

The Braille Bridge is an open-air “museum” if the access roads are not ready

In parallel with what is happening on the bridge, the Italian-Japanese association Astaldi – IHI Infrastructure System is also actively working on driveways without which it will not be possible to open traffic, even if the bridge itself will be ready at the end of the year.

The access roads, including the level crossing, are currently under construction with a tight schedule and a moderate chance of opening in December, even partially to DJ221B/Calea Galati on the Brail bank and to DN22 near Smardan on the Tulcea bank.

Although this problem and the created gap have been known for a long time, permits for the construction of connecting roads were issued only in the spring of 2021, when work on the bridge had already begun.

Breil Bridge – “Golden Gate” across the Danube

The total length of the suspension bridge over the Danube is 1,974.30 meters, and the central opening is 1,120 meters. comparative, the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has a length of 1,970 meters and a central span of 1,280 meters.

“After completion, it will be the third bridge in Europe in terms of central span and length,” Avtodorig notes.

The two towers of the bridge reach a height of 192 meters and are practically the tallest buildings in Romania (except for chimneys and antennas).

The total length of roads (including the bridge) is 23,413 km and consists of two sections: the main Braila – Jijila road with a length of 19,095 km and connecting road with DN22 Smârdan – Măcin with a length of 4328 km.

• The main road Braila – Jijila. It will have a length of 19.095 km and will be equipped with two lanes of traffic in each direction, shoulder lanes, approaches, a median zone and a parapet zone.

• Connecting road with DN22 Smârdan – Măcin. This road with a length of 4.328 km will be equipped with one traffic lane in each direction. The connecting road will start from km 7+940 of the main road (Brăila-Jijila) and intersect with DN22 Smârdan-Măcin.

Click on the plans to open them in a larger size in a separate window:

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Bridge across the Danube from Braila

Length: Bridge + road Brăila – Jijila (19 km), connecting road DN22 Smârdan Măcin (4.3 km)

Value: 1.99 billion lei (without VAT)

Builder: Astaldi (Italy) – IHI Infrastructure System (Japan)

Signed contract: 15.01.2018

Work started: December 2018

Deadline: 2022 (for the bridge), 2023 (for roads)

Physical stage – the entire project (September 2022): 76.37%

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