When the A0 Highway will be ready, Romania's most awaited highway. The explanations of the “Pro Infrastructure” director
The Capital's ring highway could be fully passable by the end of this year, but the financial difficulties faced by one of the builders may delay completion in 2027. Ionuț Ciurea, the president of the Pro Infrastructure Association, provided “Avedărul” with a detailed assessment of the status of each remaining lot on the A0 Nord.
PHOTO: Facebook / Pro Infrastructure Association
The Bucharest Motorway (A0) is the most important road project under construction in the Capital area. With a total length of approximately 100.7 km, the road ring doubles the current ring road and connects, in the Bucharest area, the A1 (Bucharest-Pitesti), A2 (Bucharest-Constanța) and A3 (Bucharest-Ploiesti) highways. Of the 100.7 km, about 72% are already in operation. The southern sector is completely open to traffic, after successive inaugurations in 2023, 2024 and 2025. On the northern semi-ring, 19 km between DN1 (Corbeanca) and DN2 (Afumati) are already operating. Three lots with a total length of approximately 30 kilometers remain to be completed, all on the northern sector.
The first opening, possible in June-July, on about 10 kilometers
The longest of the remaining lots is the 17.5 km Lot 1 Nord, which connects DJ601 to DN1 in the Corbeanca area and is being built by the Italian-Romanian association Impresa Pizzarotti-Retter. The contractual completion date is November 2026, but the builder has publicly promised an earlier partial opening, between DN1A and DN1.
“The first opening could be at the beginning of July or even earlier, around the end of June, between DN1A and DN1. There is a technical and bureaucratic problem at the junction between A0 and DN1A. The problem has a solution, but the authorities must sign all the necessary documents, including the local authorities. A partial opening promised by the builder is wanted, although it is not stipulated in the contract. The builder is not obliged to do this, but he promised and we want him to keep his promise. We say it is possible and worth the effort. There is a risk that the unloading in DN1A cannot be done for one reason or another. It would be complicated, especially if the trucks are allowed to access it. Normally, it should help those in Buftea and, in general, the most affected people the residents of those streets. It's not a perfect solution, but it's a compromise. All in all, at the end of June or beginning of July, traffic will open between DN1A and DN1, on lot 1 and 3.”said the president of the Pro Infrastructure Association.
Pizzarotti, the problem that can block completion
If the first stage depends mainly on administrative will, the second stage, the completion of the rest of Lot 1 between DN1A and DJ601A, raises problems of a deeper nature. The Italian company Pizzarotti, responsible for the earthworks on this section, is going through serious financial difficulties at the level of the parent company in Italy, with visible effects on the pace of work on the site. The Romanian partner Retter, which executes the structures and advances at a good pace, is also trying to take over the contract part of the Italians, but this approach may generate blockages if Pizzarotti opposes.
“On this piece, the problem is with the contractor Pizzarotti. It is in a form of bankruptcy, with serious financial difficulties at the parent company in Italy. Not necessarily in Romania, but the problems are real and important. These difficulties are reflected in the slow pace of work on the lot between DN1A and DJ601A, where Pizzarotti is in charge of the embankments. The structures are being made by Retter, who are moving well, but the embankments are delayed. There are also tensions in association. If the Italians are against it, I don't care who completes the work. The original deadline is the end of the year. Retter has repeatedly said that it will be finished in 2027 resolved this conflict from the association. There is a real risk of a deadlock. It is not a marginal scenario, but an optimistic one: 80% chance that the works will be ready by the end of the year.” stated the president of the Pro Infrastructure Association.
The Chinese are moving quickly on the Bucharest A0 Highway: poured asphalt, passages almost completed and physical state over 77%, captured by the new images
Lots 3 and 4, simultaneous inauguration in July-August
The other two remaining lots, Lot 3 North (DN2 Afumați-DN3 Cernica, 8.6 km, built by the Chinese state-owned company CCECC) and Lot 4 North (DN3 Cernica-A2, 4.47 km, built by UMB Tehnostrade), will be opened simultaneously. Both lots are already behind their original contractual deadlines.
“Lots 3 and 4 will be opened together. There is no node at the border between them, at DN3, and the unloading is further. There was a discussion about who finishes first, the Chinese on Lot 3 or Umbrărescu on Lot 4. They will most likely finish simultaneously. Umbrărescu would like to finish as soon as possible, but if he finishes first, he will have to wait. There will be no temporary unloading in DN3 for several months. It is not worth the complication. Both lots are already late. The Chinese were supposed to finish in February this year. The Chinese are moving relatively well, especially through the Romanian subcontractor. We don't have much leverage on the Chinese builder. It would be a mistake The most important thing is to finish the project. It doesn't matter so much if we're talking about July, August or even September. The companies involved are Chinese state-owned, and regardless of the name, we're talking about the same type of structure and control.”explained the president of the Pro Infrastructure Association.
CNAIR: traffic on the entire A0 until the end of the year
The National Road Infrastructure Administration Company confirms the same objective.
“By the end of the year, traffic must be opened on all three outstanding lots. As such, traffic will be on the entire A0, south and north, which will ensure the connection, in the Bucharest area, between the A1, A2 and A3. It is also worth noting that the A3 practically ensures the continuation of road traffic on the A7, and in the future also on the A8”. declared Alin Şerbănescu, spokesperson of CNAIR.
