One of the sections on the Transylvanian Highway A3, where a Romanian builder works, received a new extension of the completion date: 2025. This is despite the very good mobilization of the builder. In the section where UMB started operations from the early days and continued to operate engines, problems caused by landslides and the slow speed of the authorities’ response to change decisions in the project put the section at risk of not even meeting the requirements and the PNRR funding deadline: 2026 to complete.

The A3 section from Nădăşelu to ZImbor, about 30 km, is under contract as early as 2020 – a difficult section with dozens of bridges and viaducts, and even from the first days of 2021, UMB entered the field with incredible mobilization. But everything did not go very well, because massive landslides began in some areas, and the work was stopped until new technical solutions were agreed upon and even the route was changed in some places.

Despite the fact that the problems were already known, and the change of decisions was practically imposed, their agreement by the authorities took a long time, and now the completion date (2024) has actually been postponed.

“See you in Zimbor in the summer of 2025?!”, writes the Association Pro Infrastructura, which filmed all 30.06 kilometers of the A3 highway between Nedesalu and Zimbor from a drone:

“Last week, the UMB builder was on vacation, so you won’t see any movement. As of yesterday, he has returned to all the construction sites where he works,” writes the Association, which notes that the physical stage has reached approximately 55%.

Problems, rerouting and project changes: “CNAIR excessively late with approval”

“In 2022, CNAIR officials without permission delayed the approval of the modification of the technical solutions in two areas with massive landslides, in Nădășelu (viaduct over the cemetery instead of debleu) and Topa Mică (tunnel with a cut and covered surface also instead of debleu). In addition, several more points with serious problems have appeared,” reports “Pro Infrastruktur”.

“Therefore, in November 2022, the contractor received a postponement until April 2025, and in December – another one. Currently, the date is listed in the updated approved implementation schedule 07/13/2025 to complete the work!

But the situation is even more complicated. It seems that the new solution from Topa Mică does not work in the field, so another one is still being discussed, which involves a change of route and significant additional costs,” the association reports.

“Therefore, it will probably be withdrawn from the contract, and the works at the two points (Nădăşelu and Topa Mică) will be tendered, as was the case in other cases. We ask the representatives of CNAIR to clarify the situation and make a quick decision, as this section is financed from the PNRR and should be completed by the end of 2026!” warns Pro Infrastructure.

The first of the highways financed by PNRR

The highway from Nădăşelu to Zimbor is one of the first highways in Romania to receive funds from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).

In addition to the 30 kilometers from Nădăşelu to Zimbor, UMB also contracted a 12-kilometer section from Zimbor to Poarta Sălajului, a total of 42 kilometers, which are included in the funding through the PNRR.

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A3 Nădăşelu – Zimbor:

Section: SECTION 3A AND SECTION 3B, SUBDIVISION 3A2: NADASELU – MICHAESTI AND 3B1: MICHAESTI ZIMBOR

Length: 30.06 km

Entrepreneur: UMB Forwarding Association – Technotrade – Electrical installation

Value: 1.39 billion lei (without VAT) / 9.6 million euros per km

Signed contract: September 22, 2020

Duration: 12 months of design + 24 months of execution (the term of the contract has been extended in the meantime)

Execution date: 3rd quarter of 2025

A3 Zimbor – Sălăju gate:

Section: SUBSECTION 3B2: ZIMBOR – GATE OF SALAI

Length: 12.24 km

Entrepreneur: Association SA&PE Construct – Spedition UMB – Tehnostrade

Value: 680.40 million lei (without VAT) / 11.5 million euros per km

Signed contract: July 1, 2020

Duration: 12 months of design + 24 months of execution (the term of the contract has been extended in the meantime)

Execution date: Q4 2025 – Q2 2026

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