The strategic expressway connecting Romania with Ukraine enters a straight line. CNAIR announces the green light after rejecting appeals
The National Dispute Resolution Council (CNSC) rejected all eight appeals filed against the contract award procedure for the first sections of the Suceava-Siret Expressway, between Suceava and Bălcăuți. The decision confirms the result established by CNAIR at the beginning of April.
Green light for the two sections of the Suceava–Siret Expressway Photo: CNAIR
The announcement was made on Tuesday, May 26, by the general director of CNAIR, Cristian Pistol, who specified that the procedure was fully validated from a legal point of view, thus opening the way for the signing of the contracts.
“Green light for the two lots of the Suceava-Siret Expressway! (…) Designated winner: Association FAR FOUNDATION SRL (leader) – AUTOMAGISTRAL PIVDEN SRL – LINCOR TRANS SRL. Total value: 3.72 billion lei (without VAT) for 43.05 km. Financing through the European SAFE program”. Cristian Pistol sent on FB.
The project is financed by the European SAFE program and is presented by the authorities as an infrastructure with a double role: economic, for the development of the Bucovina region, but also strategic, in the context of connecting Romania to the border with Ukraine and strengthening mobility on NATO's eastern flank.
Director of CNAIR: “It's an investment in Romania's security”
“This road is not just road infrastructure. It is the axis that connects Romania to the northern border, to the border with Ukraine. It is part of the strategic mobility architecture of NATO's eastern flank. It is an investment in Romania's security, financed by the European instrument dedicated to defense capabilities”, Cristian Pistol sent.
“In the current context in our region, every kilometer of express road built between Suceava and Siret has double value: economic for Bucovina and strategic for the whole country”, Pistol added.
The CNAIR official specified that, in order to sign the contracts and start the design phase, it is necessary to allocate commitment credits by the Ministry of Transport. According to him, the procurement procedure is completed, and the European financing is already secured.
“The procedure was legally validated. The CNAIR teams conducted it professionally. I thank the colleagues from the CNAIR DRDP Iași and the technical center for the rigor with which they prepared this file. In order to be able to sign the contracts and start the design, it is necessary for the Ministry of Transport to secure the related commitment credits. The CNSC procedure is validated, the CNAIR teams are prepared, the European funding through SAFE is allocated. We are waiting for the administrative step that depends of the Ministry. CNAIR is building. Romania defends itself through infrastructure”. Pistol also pointed out.
After this decision of the CNSC, the project enters the stage preceding the signing of the contracts, considered essential for the effective start of the works.
