Romania’s Brăila Bridge over the Danube to open for traffic July 6

The Brăila Bridge over the Danube will be opened to traffic on July 6, according to minister of transport Sorin Grindeanu, who recently visited the construction site. The inauguration was previously scheduled for June 27.

The Brăila Bridge is the most complex road infrastructure project since the 1989 Revolution and has cost over EUR 500 million, being funded by the European Union.

During the first 5 years after its opening, drivers will not have to pay a toll fee. However, for a period of time, the bridge will only be open continuously on weekends, while during weekdays it will be closed at night to allow for the dismantling of construction cranes.

"Together with my colleagues, local authorities, the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration (CNAIR), the contractor, and the companies involved in the project, we have decided to open the bridge to traffic as soon as possible, which means July 6. The construction works are nearly 100% completed, with a few finishing touches remaining. But we have made the decision to open it for traffic as quickly as possible, even though there will be ongoing work,” Grindeanu said, cited by Economedia.ro.

The total length of the suspended bridge over the Danube is 1,974.30 meters, with a central span of 1,120 meters. By comparison, the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco has a length of 1,970 meters and a central span of 1,280 meters.

"At the time of its completion, it will be the third bridge in Europe in terms of central span and length," CNAIR representatives cited by HotNews say.

The two towers of the Bridge reach a height of 192 meters, making them practically the tallest structures in Romania.

(Photo source: Sorin Grindeanu on Facebook)