New road bridge across Prut River, between Bumbata and Leova: Memorandum approved by Romanian government

The Romanian government today approved a memorandum on the construction of a new road bridge across the Prut River, which will connect the localities of Bumbata (Romania) and Leova (Moldova). Through this document, the negotiation and signing of the intergovernmental agreement between the two states have been approved.

According to Romania’s cabinet, the new road bridge will represent a strategic link in connecting Moldova to European transport networks, ensuring a direct connection with Romania's primary and secondary road infrastructure and, implicitly, with the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).

“The new road bridge across the Prut, in the Bumbata–Leova area, will improve regional connectivity and enhance the freight transport flow capacity,” reads a press release of the Romanian government.

The feasibility study for the construction of the bridge is at an advanced stage. The contract was signed on February 24, 2025, and the order to start was issued on March 19, 2025, with a 12-month implementation period. The final deadline for the delivery of the documentation is March 19, 2026.

The intergovernmental agreement will include detailed provisions related to environmental protection; traffic streamlining; financing mechanisms for the objective; the fiscal and customs regime; conditions regarding the state border crossing and access to the objective; resolution of technical or administrative disputes.

Additionally, the document provides for the creation of a joint working group, responsible for analyzing and solving technical aspects related to the bridge's interconnection with existing road networks. Based on the agreement, a mixed commission will also be established to coordinate all implementation activities.

The new Bumbata–Leova road bridge will complete the network of modern crossing points over the Prut, strengthening economic and regional mobility between Moldova and the European Union. The project is part of the joint efforts for infrastructure and economic integration, aiming to facilitate trade, reduce transport times and stimulate investments in the border area.

“Our cooperation with Romania aims not only at modernizing transport networks, but also at creating concrete opportunities for the business environment and increasing commercial flows. It is time to prepare for the future through interconnected and efficient infrastructure,” according to acting Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea.

According to Romanian-Moldovan governmental agreements, Moldova will be connected to Romania through more road bridges built across the Prut.

Romania has committed, in the Government Programme, to building bridges across the Prut, doubling the number of existing road bridges by 2030. The total estimated value for carrying out the first stage of designing the four bridges over the Prut is 1,100,000 Romanian lei without VAT (over 220 million euros) for each lot, and the financing source is provided from the Romanian state budget.