Drilling and blasting work is underway in Romania for the Robeti Tunnel, which will form part of the Sibiu-Pitești stretch of the A1 motorway, one of several major transport infrastructure works underway in the country. Driving the 900m tunnel will require removing 200,000m3 of material and the use of 70tonnes of explosives, while the contracting team is expected to use around 60,000m3 of concrete and 4,000tonnes of reinforcement to support the structure.
Section 2 of the motorway between Boița and Cornetu measures just over 31km in length but is highly challenging due to the mountainous terrain. This section will require the construction of 48 viaducts and bridges as well as seven tunnel stretches, with the work costing some €836 million and due for completion in 2028. Construction is being carried out by a Turkish contracting consortium comprising Cengiz and Mapa and is being managed by Romania’s National Road Infrastructure Administration Company (CNAIR).
Section 3 presents similar challenges as the 37.4km alignment is also in mountainous terrain. This section will feature 52 bridges as well as tunnels and is a contract worth around €1 billion for Italian firm Webuild. A TBM is being used to drive the 1.78km tunnel at Poiana, which is part of Section 3.
The 1.35km Momaia tunnel in section 4 is being built by Austrian contractor PORR.
Meanwhile, construction is also underway for Romania’s A7 highway project. The 96km route links Focani and Bacu. The project is being carried out jointly by Technostrade, Spedition, SA & PE Construct and is being managed by MVA.
