Moldova secures additional funding for connection to European Road Network

Moldova will receive an additional loan of 150 million euros from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), meant to continue modernization works on the Chisinau–Leuseni road and on Section II of the Chisinau city ring road.

The project today was presented in parliament by Nicolae Mindra, State Secretary at the Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry.

“This is about ratifying the agreement already signed with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, amounting to 150 million euros. This agreement implies doubling the value of the loan previously contracted by Moldova. The document targets the road that connects the Leuseni customs checkpoint to the Chisinau municipality, namely the entire section between Leuseni and Chisinau, as well as Lot II of the Chisinau municipality ring road. The reason we come before you and request the ratification of this agreement is related to the update of the project. Essentially, it is about doubling the volume of works, as a result of the traffic structure on this road, which is a special one. More than 25 per cent of the traffic is represented by heavy transport. For this reason, the road has been designed to high standards, with modern structures and increased capacities. Considering that this agreement complements the initial agreement, and that the technical design and feasibility study have been prepared, the first two lots have been submitted to the financer for approval. For Lots II and III, the documentation is currently at the verification stage. This is due to changes that have appeared in the meantime, including the introduction of eco-ducts, since this section crosses the Codrii (Forests) area,” said Nicolae Mindra.

According to the document, the funds will be used for the rehabilitation of the M1 Chisinau–Leuseni road, with a length of 84 kilometers, and of Section II of the Chisinau municipality ring road (M2 road), with a length of 9.48 kilometers.

In addition to road infrastructure works, the supplementary financing will also be directed towards modernizing the road asset management system. This will include digital tools for monitoring, planning and optimizing road maintenance works.

The relevant authorities specify that the need for additional financing arose following the update of the detailed technical designs. The projects were initially developed on the basis of preliminary studies from 2014 and 2021, which did not take into account the impact of the war in Ukraine on the construction sector.

The 150-million-euro supplement does not change the other contractual conditions of the loan agreed with the EBRD, according to the authorities.