Representatives of public opinion express dissatisfaction with the postponements related to the Union Highway, which they consider to be “on a conveyor belt”, IPN reports, referring to Economedia.ro.

According to Romanian press reports, the Road Company has again extended for August 19 and August 28, respectively, the submission of bids for the design and execution of the Pipirig – Leghin and Miercurea Nirajului – Sărățeni mountain lots on the A8 Union Highway, although the head of the National Road Infrastructure Administration Company (CNAIR) told Economedia that he expects the bids to be opened in mid-August and earlier.

The Pipirig – Leghin lot has a length of 19 kilometers and the value of the contract is between 3.3 and 3.8 billion Romanian lei. On the route, there will be built 7 tunnels with a total length of 1.4 kilometers and another 46 structures: bridges, passages, viaducts. The duration of the contract is four years (12 months design and 36 months execution).

The initial deadline was extended for the fifth time, after May 22, June 25, July 4, July 16 and then August 12.

The Miercurea Nirajului – Sărățeni lot (23 km) is the first lot of the mountain section of the A8 Union Highway. The value of the contract is between 3.3 and 3.9 billion Romanian lei, and the financing is provided (40%) through the Transport Program.

The initial deadline for the Miercurea Nirajului – Sărățeni lot (23 km) has now been extended for the sixth time, after May 22, June 25, July 4, July 16, July 31 and now August 13, the quoted source reported.

CNAIR director Cristian Pistol previously told Economedia that the postponements are due to the large number of technical clarifications requested by the companies. “There are over 400 clarifications on the Pipirig – Leghin lot and about 370 on the Miercurea Nirajului – Sărățeni lot,” he said.

However, Economedia noted, he said that he expects the bids to be opened in mid-August for the Pipirig – Leghin lot and earlier for the Miercurea Nirajului – Sarateni lot.