Romania auctions off 60 km of highway, half built by Bechtel

Romania’s National Company for Highways (CNADNR) is currently looking for a constructor to finish the 60-kilometer section between Suplacu de Barcau and Bors, which is part of the Transilvania highway. The section was 50 percent built by American group Bechtel. In order to have it finished, CNADNR is willing to pay up to EUR 333 million, VAT included, according to an announcement it published yesterday. Contractors who are interested in this project can submit their offers by July 9. The completion time is 54 months from the date the contract will be signed. Work on this highway segment started in 2007 as part of the Transilvania project which was supposed to be built by Bechtel. The EUR 2.2 billion contract to build the 415 kilometers highway between Brasov and Bors was approved by the Romanian state in 2003. The contract was modified several times and in 2013 it was canceled. Bechtel only finished 52 kilometers, which is 12.5 percent of the highway, but cashed in over EUR 1.2 billion from the Romania state. editor@romania-insider.com