The A7 “Moldova” motorway – the trunk road that will cross the region from north to south and connect Moldova with Muntenia – is being built near Ploiesti, from the junction with the A3 to Pascani, almost 320 kilometers. In 2024, however, there are already deadlines for completion in some sections – it is mainly about 65 kilometers of the track that should be opened for traffic. However, the situation on the ground at the moment does not look too promising to finish everything on time this year.

Two sections on the A7 Ploiesti – Buzău and two sections on the A7 Buzău – Focşani have a deadline of 2024. In total, it is more than 65 kilometers of highway.

Given the progress currently being made on the four sections, and the way construction site mobilization is looking now and in recent weeks, the chances that all four sections will be ready to open in 2024 are slim. best.

The first section of A7, built by the Italians, has a chance to open in 2024

Starting from the intersection of the A7 with the A3, the first section of about 21 kilometers (Dumbrava – Mizil), the Pizzarotti-Retter association has reached a physical stage of more than 43% and the mobilization on the construction site gives hope that this section can be ready this year.

The official deadline is October 2024 (extended from the original), but remaining work, including at the junction between the two highways, may not open to traffic until the end of the year.

A7 Ploiești – Buzău – Lot 1: Dumbrava (A3) – Mizil

builder: ASOCIEREA IMPRESA PIZZAROTTI & CSPA – PIZZAROTTI SA – RETTER PROJECTMANAGEMENT SRL

Length: 21 km

Value: 1,468,550,055.22 lei without VAT.

Signed contract: June 16, 2022

Work started: August 22, 2022

The official deadline (the technical task is already ready): 20 months.

Deadline: October 2024 (extended term) / 4th quarter 2024 (realistic)

Stadium (February 2024): about 43%

Mobilization is also on the site built by Romanians and Bulgarians, but the completion is in question

On the next sector, approximately 28.3 km between Mizil and Spataru (Pietroasele), the Romanian-Bulgarian association Coni-Trace has reached a physical stage of more than 41%, with better progress on the Romanian side of the section.

Here, too, the official deadline has been extended to October 2024, but the way the construction site looks at the moment, there is less chance that the road can be opened to traffic before the end of the year.

In any case, even if it is ready, traffic can be opened only on part of the section, more precisely to the junction with DJ203C, the rest will remain a “museum” until the adjacent section in the direction of Buzau is also ready (contracted only in November 2023 with Turks from Nurol).

A7 Ploiești – Buzău – Lot 2: Mizil – Pietroasele (Spătaru)

builder: SC CONI SRL ASSOCIATION (LEADER ASSOCIATION) – TRACE GROUP HOLD PLC

Length: 28.35 km

Value: 1.25 billion lei (without VAT)

Signed contract: June 7, 2022

Work has begun: August 11, 2022

The official deadline (the technical task is already ready): 20 months.

Deadline: October 2024 (extended term) / 4th quarter (realistic)

Stadium (February 2024): 41%

First UMB sections on the A7 with completion dates in 2024

From Buzău to Pascani, all sections of the A7 are being built by the Romanian group of companies UMB. The two final sections of the Buzău – Focşani sector were the first to start work, and were also the first to be completed this year.

More precisely, on approximately 4.6 km of motorway and 4.6 km of connecting road near Buzeu (Lot 1), UMB officially started work back in December 2022 and has an official completion date of August 2024.

However, at the moment the stage of the field is only 26%, and the builder will have a tough job on the long bridge over the Buzeu River. There is little chance that this section will be ready this year.

Even if they were able to complete the interchange and link road without the highway bridge being ready, the highway section itself is useless without the extension of Lot 2 towards Phokshani.

A7 Buzeu – Fokshany, Lot 1 – Buzeu – Vadu Pasii

Length: 4.6 km highway (+ approx. 4.6 km connecting road DN2-DJ203K)

PRODUCER: Association SA&PE CONSTRUCT SRL – SPEDITION UMB SRL – TEHNOSTRADE SRL:

Value: 689 million lei without VAT

Signed contract: September 2022

Work has begun: December 2022

Deadline: August 2024 (contractual) / Q2 2025 (realistic)

Stadium (February 2024): 26%

Video with lot 1 A7 Buzău Focşani from start to minute 01:56:

“Cocoașa de la Focșani” is the only UMB section on the A7 that actually has a real chance of being ready in 2024

Lot 4 Buzeu – Focșani is about 11 km long and is nicknamed “Cocoașa de la Focșani” due to the exaggerated shape of the curve along which the highway will bypass the municipality of the county.

On this section, UMB officially started work in December 2022 and has an official completion date of August 2024. Currently, the physical stage of works is about 30%.

However, since the site is not difficult, there is a good chance that it will be completed and open by the end of the year, although not in time according to the official deadline of August 2024.

A7 Buzău – Focșani, Lot 4 – Mândrești Munteni – Focșani Nord

Length: 10.94 km (+4 km connecting road with DN2D)

PRODUCER: Association SA&PE CONSTRUCT SRL – SPEDITION UMB SRL – TEHNOSTRADE SRL

Value: 763 million lei without VAT

Signed contract: September 2022

Work has begun: December 2022

Deadline: August 2024 (contractual) / Q2 2025 (realistic)

Stadium (February 2024): 30%

Video with a fragment of “Cocoașa de la Focșani” from minute 14:47:

A7 – Motorway funded by PNRR but with a deadline for completion

The A7 “Moldova” highway is almost 440 km from Ploiesti (Dumbrava/A3) to Siret, on the border with Ukraine.

From Ploiesti to Paškani (approximately 320 km) was funded by the PNRR, a short-term plan developed by the EU to restart the post-pandemic economy. Mandatory condition: implementation of projects by 2026.

So far, almost all sections have been contracted, the last section with contracts is Petroasele – Buzău (approx. 13.9 km), the last among the lots. From Buzău to Pascani on the A7 highway, the same builder is the Romanians from UMB.

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