Myth of fast, hardworking Chinese shattered in Romania. Major delays for CCECC on A0 North Highway's third lot

The third lot of Romania's A0 Nord Highway, under construction by the Chinese firm China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is facing substantial delays and is now projected to open in late September, roughly seven months past its contractual deadline. This delay will also impact the opening of the adjacent fourth lot, which has been completed but lacks a traffic discharge solution.

The 8.6-kilometer stretch of highway between Afumați and Pantelimon has been a troubled project since its tender in 2020. The awarding of the contract was stalled for years by a series of appeals and legal battles, with CCECC successfully overcoming multiple attempts by the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration (CNAIR) to disqualify it. The contract was finally signed in March 2023, based on a 2020 offer, but the construction market had drastically changed, with significant increases in material prices and labor costs.

Work on the lot began later than initially planned. The first construction permit was issued for the DN2 junction area, but permits for the remaining six kilometers were only granted on August 6, 2024. CCECC has exclusively utilized subcontractors from Romania. Problems on the site became apparent well before the contractual deadline was missed. In May 2025, the Pro Infrastructură Association warned of insufficient mobilization by CCECC, predicting the lot would not be finished on time due to an uneven work rhythm and teams being moved frequently.

According to CNAIR, the work progress stands at 93%. The lot includes seven overpasses, with key connections to lot 4, built by UMB. UMB has effectively finished lot 4, a 4.4-kilometer section, but this segment cannot be opened to traffic until the issues with lot 3 are resolved.