The works on Craiova's South Ring Road, 10 kilometers long, are moving forward again. Technical mistakes and financial problems for the Italian manufacturer
Four years after the opening of the construction site, the works on Craiova's South Belt are stuck again, creating further delays. This time, the main causes cited are the financial problems of the Italian manufacturer, but also a technical error.
Works on the South Belt of Craiova, partially blocked. PHOTO: DRPD Craiova
Four years of waiting and blocked traffic
Craiova's Southern Ring Road, an essential project for traffic relief in the city, continues to remain unfinished almost four years after work began. The project, which involves the construction of an approximately 10-kilometer road intended to remove heavy traffic from residential areas, was supposed to be open to traffic as early as 2023. However, in 2026, residents and transporters continue to endure congestion and pollution, while the authorities estimate that only one section could be opened in the next month, Gazeta de Sud notes.
The contract for the execution of the South Belt of Craiova was signed in 2022, with an initial completion period of 15 months. The work was designed to connect three major arterials – DN6, DN55 and DN56 – giving trucks an alternative to bypass densely populated areas of the city.
Currently, the work is partially blocked and heavy traffic uses the builder's technical roads to cross the sector still under construction.
The frustration of locals and transporters is growing, and the Southern Belt has become a symbol of chronic delays in Romanian infrastructure.
Causes of delays
The delays are now attributed to several factors, including financial difficulties of the builder and technical problems at certain structures.
One of the main reasons is the financial problems of the Italian builder Rizzani de Eccher, which has entered into a preventive arrangement, a legal procedure under Italian law that allows companies in difficulty to avoid insolvency or bankruptcy by negotiating a recovery plan with creditors.
On the other hand, the works on Sector I are stagnating, especially due to the need to replace the beams at the CFR passage, as a result of a mistake by the contractor, to which is added the relocation of a high voltage network in the area of kilometer 0, which also delays the completion of this section.
The authorities give assurances: the works have exceeded the 90% stage
DRDP Craiova, which supervises the project, confirmed that there are no debts to the Italian builder in financial difficulty and that the works have exceeded the 90% threshold.
“The works have passed 90%. On sector II, which is from Cârcea to the intersection with the Malu Mare road, we are somewhere at 98%, with the possibility of opening in about a month. The DN65 works still need to be completed, and on the other sector, sector I, work is being done on the relocation of the high voltage line in the km 0 area, where the railway crossing is also located. The beams on the crossing must be replaced, the contractor has already ordered other beams, it was their mistake. We have recovered our money, after the relocation of the high voltage line, the works, after they put the beams, will be completed. All the extensions were done legally and contractually.” explained Cristian Tudor, representative of DRDP Craiova.
Regarding the financial situation of the builder, Tudor specified: “Regarding the financial part with the contractor's problems, DRDP has no debts to him, the last payment was sent to CNAIR on Friday for settlement. Regarding the builder, to our peace, but also to the subcontractors, we found out that he has been taken over by another big construction company in Italy. This gives us the guarantee that the work will be completed. They will continue the work.”
