EU gives €363m funding for Romanian bridge over Danube

The European Commission has said that it is to fund a project to build a bridge over the Danube in the city of Braila, Romania to the tune of €363-million.

Construction of the bridge began last year, however experts pointed out that the government had taken the necessary steps, such as expropriation and power grid relocation. to allow for the construction.

The bridge, which will have a total length of 2 km, will be constructed by a consortium headed up by Italian group Astaldi.

The project is set to be completed by the end of 2023 and the funding will come from the European Regional Development Fund, the European Commission said in a press release.

As part of the project, connecting roads will also be constructed to improve transport connections between Romania's northeast region and the Black Sea.

"This EU-funded project will clearly improve the quality of life in the region through shorter and safer routes. Through simpler connections to Moldova and Ukraine, the cohesion project will also contribute to intensifying EU relations with its neighbors," Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Negotiations on Enlargement and Regional Policy Johannes Hahn said.

The project is part of the trans-European transport network and will also improve connections between the north-east and the city of Tulcea in the east, the port of Constanta in the south, and the Danube Delta. 

At present, the only possible connection is via the Giurgeni-Vadul Oii bridge, around 88 km south of Braila, or by ferry from Braila to Galati. The ferry crossing is only open in summer and autumn due to frost, fog, or storms in winter and spring.

The new bridge will cut travel time by an average of around 50 minutes.

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