VIDEO // Slobozia Mare bypass road reopened to traffic; Moldovan parliament speaker describes event as European investment due to benefit carriers, citizens

The traffic on the bypass road of the Slobozia Mare settlement today was reopened, after the completion of works on a 16.6-kilometre segment built to divert heavy traffic away from the localities of Slobozia Mare, Cislita-Prut and Giurgiulesti. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu and Deputy Prime Minister, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister Vladimir Bolea.

According to the National Roads Administration, the project was implemented with the financial support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The total investment amounts to approximately 24 million euros.

During the ceremony, Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu stressed that the new road would have a major impact both on the economy and on the quality of life of residents from south Moldova.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate all beneficiaries, especially carriers. But I believe the happiest are the residents of these localities, who have been waiting for this moment for a long time. In addition to the very important economic component, we will be able to ease and redirect the flow of heavy transport onto this bypass, so that trucks will no longer pass through the localities of Giurgiulesti, Slobozia Mare, Cislita-Prut and others. This is a European investment from which our carriers and companies are benefiting and will continue to benefit. Congratulations to everyone involved and we encourage entrepreneurs from Moldova to continue participating in such tenders,” said Igor Grosu.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Bolea pointed out that the works had been carried out by companies of Moldova, which proved their capacity to implement infrastructure projects meeting European standards and within the agreed timeframe.

“The second phase of the project started in 2024 and was completed exactly on time, which shows that companies from Moldova have developed the capacity to build with quality, on schedule and in line with all standards. The road has been built to European level, with state-of-the-art road markings, safety barriers and all necessary elements to ensure the safety of road users,” said Vladimir Bolea.

The Deputy Prime Minister specified that the main beneficiaries of the project are the residents of Slobozia Mare and economic operators who transport goods to the Danube ports.

“The residents of Slobozia Mare will no longer have to endure the heavy truck traffic that used to pass through the locality. Just as happened in Vulcanesti, people here are now freed from the circulation of high-tonnage lorries. At the same time, economic operators will reach the ports more quickly and in safer conditions. From the very beginning, our goal was to connect the north of Moldova to the seaports and to remove heavy traffic from towns and villages. This is a model investment through which the government shows care for citizens, support for the business environment and the development of local communities,” said Vladimir Bolea.

The new bypass road has a length of 16.6 kilometres and was built to streamline traffic towards Giurgiulesti and to reduce the circulation of heavy vehicles through the localities from south of Moldova.