EC approves EUR 124 mln funding for Arad – Timisoara highway

The European Commission has approved a EUR 124.3 million financing for the Arad – Timisoara highway from the EU's Cohesion Fund. The project includes a 44.5 km highway between Arad and Timisoara, out of which 12.25 km represent the Arad bypass. The highway segment is part of the 7th priority transport corridor which crosses Romania from Nadlac to Constanta. The Arad – Timisoara highway will half the trip time between the two cities, to 33 minutes, and allow a drop of 7 percent in car repairing costs, according to the Transport Ministry. The highway will have 20 bridges and passages, 5 road nodes and two service areas. The highway is currently in works and should be finalized in 2011, according to an announcement from the previous Transport Minister Radu Berceanu. Construction companies FCC, Porr and Astaldi are working on the highway. Earlier this month, the Romanian media reported the three companies had stopped works on the highway due to the lack of payments from the state. editor@romania-insider.com