New mountain roads in Romania's Apuseni to rival Transapuseana, connect isolated villages

Following the tourism success of the Transapuseana road, Romania is embarking on modernizing several other mountain routes in the Apuseni region. These projects aim to open up access to spectacular natural areas and to the increasingly depopulated villages inhabited by the "moți," the traditional mountain communities of Apuseni.

The Transapuseana, an 80-kilometer road connecting Aiud and Abrud, was modernized in 2024 and has since become a significant attraction for tourists and a vital link for several picturesque mountain villages and natural monuments. Authorities hope that new road upgrades, currently under construction, will similarly boost tourism and investment in isolated yet scenic parts of the northwestern Romanian mountains.

One key project involves the modernization of County Road 763 (DJ 763) between Padiș and Ic Ponor, a 10-kilometer stretch spanning Bihor, Cluj, and Alba counties. This upgraded road will provide better access to the Padiș tourist area, a gateway to stunning natural sites within the Apuseni Natural Park. These include Poiana Ponor, a unique closed depression that forms a temporary lake in spring, and the impressive karst complex known as Cetățile Ponorului (Castles of Ponor).

The modernization of DJ 763 involves complex engineering due to the mountainous terrain. Works include rock removal, slope stabilization, road widening, and the installation of drainage systems. The contract, valued at approximately 81.6 million lei (including VAT), was awarded to Antrepriza de Reparații și Lucrări S.A. Cluj-Napoca, with an 18-month execution period.