Romania's Transfăgărăşan and Transalpina mountain highways to close November 1

Romania's national highways authority CNADNR has announced that the dramatic high altitude Transfăgărăşan and Transalpina (in picture) roads will be closed from November 1 this year. The Transfăgărăşan will remain closed from tomorrow until June 1 next year, however, the authorities will attempt to reopen the Transalpina route if weather conditions improve.

The Transfăgărăşan will be closed to traffic between kilometer 104 (Piscu Black) and 130.8 km (Cabana Balea Cascada). Meanwhile the Transalpina will shut between Rânca (kilometer 34) and Curpat (kilometer 79.2). The spectacular Transfăgărăşan was built on the orders of Communist era dictator Nicolae Ceausescu between 1970 and 1974 to ensure a military strategic route through the mountains. It includes Romania's longest road tunnel (887 meters). The iconic road featured in the popular British motoring television show Top Gear and despite having the highest average altitude of any Romanian road, its highest point comes second to the Transalpina's Urdele Pass, which reaches 2145 meters above sea level. The Transalpina is considered among the most picturesque in the country and has a long history: originally a Roman road, it was paved in the 1930s and renovated by the Nazis in World War II. It was constructed on an old shepherd trail known as the Poteca Dracului (the Devil's Path) Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com