The European Commission has approved €724m to build the Nadlac-Arad and Orastie-Sibiu highway in Romania, which will form a part of the pan-European Corridor IV.

The Nadlac-Arad project involves building a 39km two-lane highway and a 6km connecting road between Nadlac and DN 7.

After completion the highway will reduce the travel time between Nadlac and Arad cities to 26 minutes.

The EU will contribute €214m to the Nadlac-Arad project project and €510m to the Orastie-Sibiu project.

The Orastie-Sibiu project also involves building a 82km two-lane highway that, upon completion, will reduce journey time between Orastie and Sibiu cities to 56 minutes.

Both the highway projects are expected to be completed by 2013.