Government approves ratification of agreement on construction of bridge over Prut River and first highway section in Moldova

The Government today approved the draft ratification of the Agreement with Romania on matters relating to the construction and operation of transport infrastructure of strategic interest to both states, including the cross-border road bridge over the Prut River between Ungheni (Republic of Moldova) and Ungheni (Romania).

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea said at the Government meeting that the Agreement creates the necessary framework for the construction of the road bridge over the Prut, as well as for the development of related infrastructure. It also provides for a coordinated border control system, which will help streamline traffic and reduce crossing times.

The Agreement also establishes the division of investment responsibilities between the two states. Thus, the Romanian side will finance the construction of the bridge and the infrastructure assigned to it, estimated at approximately 56 million euros.


“The contribution of the Republic of Moldova is estimated at around 5 million euros for the construction of an approximately 500-metre highway section between the bridge and the R16 national road,” Vladimir Bolea explained.


According to the official, the works are scheduled to be completed by late 2030.

As an extension of the bridge infrastructure, a five-kilometre highway section will be built on the territory of the Republic of Moldova. The project includes a 70-million-euro investment from the Romanian Government.


“Through this project, we are strengthening the road connection with Romania, reducing transport times and costs, and improving the Republic of Moldova’s access to the European transport network. The approximately 500-metre road section continues from the bridge to the roundabout. From there, a further 5 kilometres and 200 metres of highway will follow—another investment by the Government of Romania, amounting to approximately 70 million euros in road infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova,” Bolea emphasized.


Prime Minister Vasile Tofan thanked Romania for its involvement in this project, which is important for the development of the country’s infrastructure.


“It will be a historic moment when we open this first highway segment in our country, giving the Republic of Moldova the beginnings of a highway, which we hope will eventually continue to Odesa,” he said.


The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Moldova and the Government of Romania on matters relating to the construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of transport infrastructure of strategic interest to both states, including the cross-border road bridge between the two states over the Prut River, between Ungheni (Republic of Moldova) and Ungheni (Romania) was signed in Bucharest on 2 July this year.

The Ungheni–Ungheni Bridge is the first motorway-standard road bridge built over the Prut in more than 60 years. It will provide a direct connection between the Republic of Moldova and Romania via the A8 Union Motorway, which will cross the Carpathians, and via a future highway to Chisinau.

Construction works began in the spring of last year, and the new infrastructure will facilitate the transport of goods and people between the two states and integrate the Republic of Moldova more effectively into the European transport network. The project is financed by the European Union, which allocated 35 million euros through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).