Basarab Overpass in Bucharest Finally Receives Official Reception and Repair Works After 15 Years

After a decade and a half of delays and structural neglect, the Basarab Overpass, a major infrastructure project in Bucharest, is finally moving towards a resolution. The Bucharest City Hall, under Mayor Ciprian Ciucu, has successfully navigated the complex procedures to officially receive the overpass and initiate much-needed repair works. This development marks a significant step forward from a state of disrepair, highlighted by a concrete slab falling onto a car earlier this year. The overpass's troubled history, beginning in the early 2000s and culminating in its 2011 inauguration under a different administration, has been plagued by cost overruns and constructor disputes. The contractor, Astaldi - FCC, had refused to complete remaining works, leaving the overpass without warranty or maintenance. The delay in the reception process was further complicated by missing documentation, some of which had been seized by the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA). Mayor Ciucu's administration has been instrumental in unblocking these procedures, engaging in negotiations with the constructor to reach an agreement. The city has allocated 20 million lei for the repairs, with costs to be shared between the municipality and the contractor, depending on the nature of the necessary interventions. This shared responsibility aims to address defects stemming from the lack of timely maintenance and the prolonged reception period. The commencement of repair works is anticipated for the summer, following the approval of the technical project and the obtainment of the construction permit. Temporary traffic restrictions will be implemented in the affected areas. The successful reception and upcoming repairs represent a triumph for the current administration, overcoming bureaucratic hurdles and historical mismanagement to ensure the safety and functionality of a critical piece of Bucharest's infrastructure.

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Finally, we have received the Basarab Overpass. And you don't know what we've been through in the short time I've been mayor general. Well, I admit, the discussions had started before I arrived. I didn't do the reception because I didn't have the documents. Why didn't we have them anymore? Because the DNA had taken them. And the DNA had to give them back. I gave them in original and for years they couldn't do the reception. But we have overcome this moment, we have negotiated