Moldovan roads to be examined and rebuilt

Prime-Minister Vasile Tarlev requested the Ministry of Transport and Road Management, Ministry of Local Public Administration and the raion heads to examine the state of all the roads in order to establish the amount of works, means and financial resources which are needed for their reconstruction. Within an audience with mayors from different settlements, several serious issues have been discussed – building of culture houses, providing settlements with permanent gas supply, sports facilities’ renovation, building of sewerage systems. Participants agreed that the problem of local roads is the most severe one. The PM mentioned that, once with the launching of the road reconstruction process, the exigency concerning the quality of works, operated from public money will increase. General contractors will be obliged to provide an at least 10-year guarantee for the roads’ quality. Earlier, authorities announced that about MDL 2 bln will be allotted in 2007 for roadworks, which is twice more compared with the sums planned earlier. Given the lack of specialised companies in Moldova, Tarlev urged state institutions to attract foreign road reconstruction companies. Local workers are to be employed at a 95% rate in this process. According to experts, the total cost of roadworks in Moldova, is estimated at USD 12 bln. Nearly a half of Moldova’s roads are damaged and need to be restored.