Construction work will begin in the spring of next year on the section of the North Transylvanian highway between Bihar County, Bisztraterebes and Bihar, announced Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu. Grindeanu said that the litigation between the construction company and the national road management company (CNAIR), which delayed the start of the works, will be clarified by then. The minister referred to the mistakes of the previous government, which concluded an undervalued and underfunded contract with the contractor, which prevented the project from being implemented on time. The original contract was terminated, and after a new tender was issued, it was won by a company belonging to the same interest.
The value of the construction contract is 785.215 million lei (without VAT), and the source of the financing comes from the European grant. The 28.55 km long section of the highway includes 7 bridges and 11 overpasses. The reason for the delay in the works was the ongoing lawsuits between CNAIR and the construction company, as well as the necessary increase in costs due to the soil consolidation works. Although the construction contract was already signed in March this year, the works were only planned for 2025 due to the lawsuits. Further construction works can start on the section between Bisztraterebes and Berettyószéplak, where the construction plans have already been submitted by the company entrusted with the construction. The construction of the 26-kilometer section can begin soon after the decision has been made.