A7 highway section delayed due to construction errors by Bulgarian firm Trace; completion uncertain.
🔗 Read the article on hotnews.ro
[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]
Approximately 30 kilometers of the “Moldova” A7 Motorway are currently unusable because of construction errors made by a Bulgarian contractor. Although remediation work is underway, the opening date for traffic remains unclear. Lot 2 of the A7 PloieÈ™ti – Buzău motorway was nearly complete in spring but has not been opened due to construction issues. The Romanian-Bulgarian association Coni-Trace, responsible for building the lot, experienced delays because several welds on metal elements of three structures (bridges and underpasses) were non-compliant, with the Bulgarian firm Trace being responsible for the faulty welds. CNAIR confirmed that technical quality checks identified these weld discrepancies in main structural components, leading to an in-depth technical analysis. Following an independent international expert’s certification and proposed solutions, remediation work began. Two underpasses have been opened to traffic after repairs, while the most complex structure, a bridge over the Sărata River at km 38, is undergoing consolidation of its metal deck joints, which will require new static load tests upon completion. CNAIR estimates that traffic on this delayed section might open in late September 2025, contingent on completing the repairs and passing the required tests. CNAIR has initiated contractual steps to penalize the contractor for delays and quality issues. The Bulgarian contractor, Trace Group Hold, stated they are fulfilling their contract according to FIDIC Red Book terms and that risk is shared among all parties involved in the investment process.
