The construction works on the bridge over the Prut at Ungheni, symbolically named “The Bridge of Flowers” in memory of the historic event of 35 years ago, have started. Authorities from both sides of the Prut, present at the festive event, noted that the new bridge represents Moldova’s way through Romania to Europe and will provide an impetus for the other four planned bridges across the Prut, IPN reports.
The President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Grosu, noted the value and importance of the Ungheni event: “If 35 years ago, our forefathers made a Bridge of Flowers, a bridge of emotion, full of emotion, full of soul, long awaited, they pulled down the barbed wire on the Prut, I believe that our generation, rightly, has the obligation, but also the honor, to build stone bridges and this we must do out of respect, as a tribute to those who made that Bridge of Flowers.”
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Romanian Government, Marian Neacsu, emphasized that in the 1990s it was the time of flower bridges, in the 2000s and until recently it was the time of the bridge of souls, and now it is the time of bridges built of concrete and iron. “A bridge is a path, and this highway bridge is the path from Moldova through Romania to Europe, the true path that you, Romanians from this side of the Prut, and we, Romanians from the other side, want and we will certainly reach it”, said the Romanian Deputy Prime Minister.
“Hard work is the word that determines the results we see here today,” said Moldova’s Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his firm belief that by the end of 2025 the feasibility projects for the other four bridges over the Prut will be finalized and in 2026 the design phase will start, so that they can be built “for the benefit of Romanians on both sides of the Prut”.
Romania’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Sorin-Mihai Grindeanu, noted that this is the first bridge built over the Prut River after 60 years, expressing the hope that by the end of this year the feasibility studies for the other four bridges over the Prut will be completed, and that they will be under construction next year.
“Following the symbolism of the Bridge of Flowers, today we are building a stone bridge to connect the two Ungheni localities by road. Together with the railroad bridge, in this way we will have a much more efficient link to cross the Prut”, said former European Commissioner for Transport Adina Vălean. The former European Commissioner pointed out that a road bridge is more than a bridge over water for transport, it is a bridge between the two economies, it is an expression of freedom of movement, it is an opportunity for development, communication and mobility for Romania and Moldova.
Earlier this month, Romania issued the necessary authorization for the construction of the first highway-level road bridge over the Prut, the Flower Bridge over the Prut at Ungheni, Golaiesti – Zagarancea, some 60 years after the last bridge was built.
