Romania’s Government recently decided to include an alternative to the old system of cash payment for the bridge toll at the Fetesti-Cernavoda station on the A2 Bucharest-Constanta highway, also known as the Sun Highway. This will be similar to the system currently used for paying the road tax (vignette), and will come into force from May 1, according to officials.

Drivers who don’t want to stop at the barrier, can pay the bridge toll via short message SMS at 7577, available for Orange, Vodafone and Telekom, or at OMV, Petrom, Rompetrol and Mol gas stations. The SMS must contain the vehicle's category ("B" for passenger cars) and the license plate number. The payment can be made before crossing the bridge or until 24:00 the next day. They will be able to pass freely using two of the three lanes and won’t have to wait at the barrier anymore.

One lane will still have a barrier for those who prefer to pay the toll cash, according to a statement of the Government’s press office.

Fees for crossing the bridge are between RON 13 (EUR 2.9) for small vehicles and RON 91 (EUR 20.5) for trucks. The fines for not paying this tariff within the legal period will be between RON 130 and RON 910, or ten times the toll, according to the Government’s statement.

A series of video cameras will identify the vehicles and will register their license plates. The number will then be checked in the electronic payment system.  If the toll is not paid by 24:00 the next day, the action could be considered a possible offense.

The traffic is very intense on the Sun Highway, up to 50,000 vehicles being registered on this road every day or 4,000 vehicles per hour. With this measure, the authorities hope to avoid the long queues usually forming at the bridge toll during summer.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com