Repair of Moldova’s roads will cost billions of dollars

The road transport infrastructure strategy for 2008- 2017 envisions the rehabilitation of 45 sections of national road by attracting foreign investments. Twenty-five road sections will be repaired over the first five years. A sum of US$738 million is needed for the purpose. Another 20 sections will be renovated during the second stage. The works will cost an estimated US$1 billion, Info-Prim Neo reports. According to Vitalie Panurco, of the State Road Management, the Government intends to allocate money for repairs from the loan promised by the Russian Federation. Agreements to support the road rehabilitation program have been signed with the EBRD, EIB and the Investment Facilitation Fund in the EU Neighborhood. The EBRD will lend 21.78 million euros, the EIB – 23.63 million euros, while the Fund will allocate a grant of 12 million euros. The following roads will be repaired as part of this project: Chisinau –Hancesti, at the border with Ukraine, Peresecin – Sarateni section, Chisinau – Hancesti – Cimislia, the section up to Cimislia, and Balti – Sarateni. The authorities plan to use the money provided by the Millennium Challenge Corporation to rehabilitate the national road Soroca – Arionesti –Moghileovsk – Podolsk, the 29 km long section Soroca – Ungheni, the national road Chisinau – Vulcanesti – Giurgiulesti, at the border with Romania, and the 122 km section Comrat – Giurgiulesti. Project documentation was formulated for 212.5 kilometers of road that will be repaired at a cost of US$ 228 million. The national roads in Moldova are about 3,300 kilometers long.