Blaj builds spectacular bypass with curved viaduct over river and railway

Blaj, a municipality in Romania with fewer than 18,000 residents, is building a striking bypass designed to reroute heavy traffic away from its town center. The 7-kilometer road project, significantly funded by European grants, has reached approximately 60% completion since construction began in spring 2025. The bypass is slated for completion by early 2027. A key feature of the bypass is a nearly 450-meter curved viaduct. This structure is designed to span the Târnava River and a railway line. "At the viaduct, beams have been installed on the steel structure. These beams are interspersed with other concrete beams, as this viaduct has two curves, one over the Târnava River and the other over the railway line, and the interspersion with these is necessary for expansion and for concrete work. Each of the two beams weighs 76 tons," recently informed Valentin Rotar, the mayor of Blaj. The total investment for the new bypass amounts to 245 million lei. The project is financed through non-reimbursable European funds via the Transport Program 2021–2027, supplemented by the state budget through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The bypass route starts from the DN 14B Copșa Mică–Teiuș national road, bypasses Blaj to the north, and reconnects to the DN 14B. It will also link to the future TransRegio Blaj–Teiuș–A10 road, which aims to improve connectivity between Blaj and the A10 Sebeș–Turda highway. Beyond the bypass, Blaj has seen other significant public investments, including a multi-purpose hall and the reconstruction of the "Bridge of Lies" into a futuristic, illuminated pedestrian railway crossing. These developments highlight the city's ongoing efforts toward modernization and improved infrastructure.

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At the viaduct, beams have been installed on the steel structure. These beams are interspersed with other concrete beams, as this viaduct has two curves, one over the Târnava River and the other over the railway line, and the interspersion with these is necessary for expansion and for concrete work. Each of the two beams weighs 76 tons.