Several traffic restrictions will be in place in Bucharest in the coming days, during the events related to the funeral of King Michael I, Romania’s last monarch.

King Michael I died on December 5 at his private residence in Switzerland. The plane bringing the king’s casket from Switzerland to Romania landed at the Otopeni Airport at around 11:00 on Wednesday, December 13. The king’s coffin was then taken to the Peles Castle in Sinaia mountain resort. Later the same day, the coffin will be taken to the Royal Palace in Bucharest, where it will remain until December 16.

On Wednesday, December 13, after 19:00, the funeral procession will pass under the Arch of Triumph in Northern Bucharest. Thus, several traffic restrictions will be in place in the area, namely on Constantin Prezan Blvd, Mareșal Averescu Blvd., A. Constantinescu street, the central axis on the Kiseleff road, and the section between Presei Libere Square and the Arch of Triumph.

On Friday, December 15, starting 16:00, the traffic and parking will be restricted on Aleea Colina Bucuriei, and Baneasa Train Station’s area.

Then, on Saturday, September 16, the day of the funeral, the traffic will be restricted as follows:

- from 00:00 to 08:00 on Calea Victoriei between C.A.Rosetti street and Aleea Kretzulescu, on Dem. I. Dobrescu street between Nicolae Balcescu Blvd. and Calea Victoriei, and the streets nearby

- between 08:00 and 14:00 on Calea Victoriei between Victoriei Square and Ion Campineanu street, and on the streets nearby

- starting 11:00 on the funeral procession’s route namely the Royal Palace – Calea Victoriei – Splaiul Independentei – Unirii Blvd. – Aleea Colina Bucuriei

- starting 14:00 on both directions, depending on the speed of travel, along the funeral procession’s route and the streets nearby from the Patriarchal Palace to Baneasa Train Station, namely Aleea Colina Bucuriei –Serban Voda bridge – I.C. Bratianu Blvd. –Universitatii Square – Nicolae Balcescu Blvd. –Romana Square –Lascar Catargiu Blvd. –Victoriei Square –Aviatorilor Blvd. – Charles de Gaulle Square –Constantin Prezan Blvd. – the Arch of Triumph –Kiseleff road –Presei Libere Square –București-Ploiesti road – Fantana Miorita – Baneasa Train Station

Also, depending on the number of participants at the funeral mass at the Patriarchal Cathedral, road traffic will be restricted gradually on the following arteries: Unirii Blvd. between I. C. Bratianu Blvd. and Libertatii Blvd., Splaiul Independentei between Halelor street and Serban Voda bridge, Halelor street towards Splaiul Independentei, and Regina Maria Blvd. between Libertatii Blvd. and Aleea Colina Bucuriei.

The Romanian Police recommends drivers to travel safely, to observe the traffic police signals on the route, and use detour routes. Also, the pedestrians are urged to move only on sidewalks, and to cross the road only through marked places.

The king’s coffin will be taken to Curtea de Arges on Saturday, December 16, by the Royal Train. The burial service will take place at Curtea de Arges Cathedral on Saturday evening. The ceremony will be attended only by the Custodian of the Crown, the Royal Family of Romania, and members of foreign royal families. The full program of King Michael’s funeral is available on the Royal Family’s official website.

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Irina Marica, irina.marica@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Politia Romana - www.politiaromana.ro on Facebook)