The Romanian National Company of Motorways and National Roads (CNADNR) has awarded the first lot of the Sebes-Turda motorway project in central Transylvania to construction company Salini Impregilo.

The €121m contract comprises 17km of motorway with two lanes in each direction with a hard shoulder, including nearly 81,000m² of bridges and viaducts, in addition to three motorway intersections.

The 70km-long Sebes-Turda motorway, which is located in the centre of Transylvania in the provinces of Alba and Cluj, will connect the A1 and A3 motorways, between the cities of Sebes and Turda, while also providing access to Alba Iulia and Aiud.

"it will provide a link between the Pan-European Corridor IV and the Transylvanian motorway."

Once fully completed, it will provide a fast and safe link between the Sibiu-Arad motorway (Pan-European Corridor IV) and the Bucharest-Brasov-Bors motorway (Transylvanian motorway).

Estimated cost of the total project is €560m, which will be financed in proportion of 85% from the European funds, with the remaining 15% being funded from the state budget.

Salini Impregilo has been working on a variety of projects in Romania since 1993. It has executed projects such as the modernisation of the DN7 National Road, redevelopment of the Bucharest-Pitesti motorway, and maintainance of the north and south breakwaters of the Port of Constanta.

The company is currently engaged in the completion of the €137m Orastie-Sibiu motorway Lot 3 as well as the design and construction of the €153m Lugoj-Deva motorway Lot 2.