<\/p>\n
This Tuesday a
\nmotorway bridge close to the Italian city of Genoa collapsed, killing dozens of
\npeople, including two Romanians. The Government in Rome has launched an
\ninvestigation into the activity of the company charged with the maintenance of
\nthe bridge. The company is now facing a 150-million-euro fine as well as having
\nits concession agreement revoked. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The tragedy in Italy has prompted authorities
\nin other countries, such as Romania, Bulgaria and Ukraine, to review the status
\nof their bridges. The National Road Company in Romania said all bridges are in
\ngood condition. Of the country’s 4,250 bridges, only 37 have been flagged for
\nsome technical problems, yet most of these are on secondary roads, the company
\nreports. No bridge poses any immediate risk of collapsing. The company is
\nconstantly monitoring bridges, and where risks are detected, bridges are shut
\ndown and traffic is diverted to other roads. Under the legislation in force,
\nbridges are inspected every six months or sooner, where needed. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The National
\nRoad Company says maintenance works can take from 10 up to 15 years, while the
\ntotal period of rehabilitating or rebuilding a bridge segment spans from 35 to
\n50 years, depending on a technical analysis. According to a company release, a
\npublic tender will soon be organized for awarding contracts to rehabilitate
\nbridges crossing the Romanian section of the Danube on A2 motorway. In turn,
\nBulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov ordered that all bridges be verified,
\nrenovated and consolidated. Bulgarian Minister of Public Works said over 200
\nbridges, built over 35 years ago, are in bad shape. Road infrastructure in
\nRomania is a delicate subject. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Romania ranks at the bottom of the list of EU
\nmember states in terms of highways. In August 2018, Romania had only 774
\nkilometers of highway. The budget allotted to road infrastructure this year
\nprovides for insufficient funds to finish ongoing motorway construction works,
\nalthough the deadline for some of these projects is 2019. Besides, several projects
\nare at a standstill as no funds have been allotted for next year. The
\nSibiu-Pitesti motorway, the Pitesti-Craiova express road, the Romania-Moldova
\nhighway, the southern beltline in Bucharest or the bridge over the Danube in
\nBraila are all projects that started in 2017, but whose funding has been
\nseverely diminished in 2018. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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