What awaits us this summer on our trip to Greece? We've joined the Schengen Area, but we're still waiting in line to pay the toll

Sunday, Feb 2, 2025

HotNews

Queues persist at Giurgiu-Ruse bridge due to toll payment issues and ongoing Bulgarian infrastructure work.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

Despite Romania joining Schengen on January 1st, queues persist at the Giurgiu-Ruse bridge crossing due to both capital works on the Bulgarian side and the current payment system for the toll. Tolls are set by a bilateral protocol from 1991; small cars pay around €2-3, while trucks pay about €37. Both Romanian (CNAIR) and Bulgarian authorities collect these fees, primarily via card or cash at booths. Although customs checks were eliminated, vehicles must still stop to pay the toll, causing delays, especially during peak times. Eliminating tolls requires a new bilateral protocol, which is not currently being discussed. CNAIR estimates the bridge toll generates nearly €17 million annually and is working on implementing an online payment system with automated vehicle recognition within four months. On the Bulgarian side, while cars can pay online via customs, they still must stop at booths for verification. Furthermore, significant modernization works on the Bulgarian side are scheduled to continue until summer 2026, contributing to traffic congestion alongside Romanian maintenance activities.

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