Romania's A1 Sibiu-Pitești Highway: Third Tunnel Construction Begins

Construction has commenced on the third tunnel along Section 2 of Romania's A1 Sibiu-Pitești highway, a significant development in the ambitious project to cross the Carpathian Mountains. The director of the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration (CNAIR), Cristian Pistol, announced on Saturday that constructors are actively working on three tunnels within the mountainous segment.

Specifically, work on the Balota tunnel (500m) has begun with initial excavation, while the Robești tunnel (900m) is 36% complete, with excavation finished and waterproofing and concreting underway. The Boița tunnel (264m + 247m) has also seen progress, with 87m and 21m excavated on its two galleries, reaching 17.17% physical completion.

Pistol reported that 562 workers and 155 machines are mobilized, and the overall physical progress for the section stands at 11.63%. However, he highlighted that a critical next phase hinges on authorities, specifically the Ministry of Environment's issuance of a revised Environmental Accord. This permit is a prerequisite for obtaining construction authorizations across the entire construction site.

Section 2, stretching between Boița and Cornetu, spans 31.33 kilometers and features seven tunnels totaling approximately 5 kilometers, along with 24 bridges and 24 viaducts. The contract value is 4.25 billion lei (excluding VAT), funded by the Transport Program. The projected opening for this section is 2029, with other sections of the highway expected to be completed between 2024 and 2026.