The two sections of the A3 Transylvania Motorway in Bihor county, visited on Friday by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, namely Suplacu de Barcau - Chiribis (26.35 kilometres) and Chiribis - Biharia (28.5 kilometres), are at different stages of construction, the first at 60 percent and the second at 30 percent, and are expected to be completed in autumn 2026 and May 2027 respectively.

'Next year, two stretches in Cluj, Salaj and Bihor counties will be completed. This means 70 kilometres of motorway will open, and as presented here, by 2027 this section towards the Hungarian border will also be finished. This means that by mid-2027, except for the Salaj area, Meses, Zalau, continuity on the Transylvania Motorway will effectively be ensured. Taking into account the duration of works on the tunnel planned in the area, which, as you know, is estimated at five years, the provisional solution is to complete the other part and use Zalau's ring road, so that by 2028-2029 this important transport artery can practically be used,' the prime minister told a press conference held on the site.

The PM was accompanied by Director General of the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration (CNAIR) Cristian Pistol and Grigore Chis, the Investment Director of the National Road Investment Company (CNIR), alongside the builders and local and county officials.

PM Bolojan mentioned that the completion of this motorway section will allow travellers from the Republic of Moldova, Bucovina and northern Transylvania counties to reach EU countries more quickly, while also easing traffic for the thousands of trucks currently using the heavily congested Cluj-Napoca-Oradea stretch.

'This means gains for Romanian exporters, it means greater safety on the roads. I am pleased that we can secure funding for these works and I thank the builders, and the two companies under the Ministry of Transport, the CNAIR and the CNIR, which manage these projects, for unblocking the works and solving day-to-day issues and I am confident that, as committed, they will complete the works within the announced deadlines,' Bolojan said.

The prime minister began his visit at the A3 motorway construction site with sector 3C1 Chiribis - Tauteu (Suplacu de Barcau) at the Erbasu site organisation and continued with sector 3C2 Chiribis - Biharia.

Sector 3C1, between Suplacu de Barcau and Chiribis, is being built by Constructii Erbasu since 20 January 2025, with completion deadline scheduled for October 2026. It will be notable for its 1.8-kilometre viaduct over the reservoir, the second-longest viaduct in Europe (after the Millau Viaduct in France) and the largest structure in south-east Europe.

The physical progress of the works is approximately 60 percent.

According to Erbasu Director General Calin Roman, the company has deployed significant resources on site, with over 550 workers and 235 pieces of machinery. Intensive work is underway on earthworks, bridges, reinforcements, artistic works, previously started structures and the viaduct's asphalt surfacing.

'Completing the 1.8-kilometre viaduct over the reservoir is a technical challenge, as are other viaducts and bridges. We will pay special attention to works in the oil field, underpasses and ground reinforcements,' Calin Roman told AGERPRES.

The total project value is 884,123,669 lei. According to the builders, payments are proceeding smoothly without major issues.

Sector 3C2, between Chiribis and Biharia, is being built by the Precon Transilvania and Citadina 98 joint venture (both part of the Selina group), which began work on 1 October 2025. According to contractor Beniamin Rus, the physical progress of the works is approximately 30 percent.

The contract value is 785,215,709.98 lei. Funding is provided from non-reimbursable EU funds under the 2021-2027 Transport Programme, as well as from the state budget.

Prime Minister Bolojan concluded by stating that, by 'the summer of 2027, the works will be completed' on both sections. AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Eugenia Pasca; EN - writing by: Rodica State)