Traffic blocked on more road segments of Moldova

Chisinau, 8 January /MOLDPRES/ - The traffic is blocked on more road segments from central and southern Moldova, because of the heavy snowfall.  
According to a press release by the Transport and Roads Infrastructure Ministry (MTID), the traffic is blocked on the M3 road Chisinau – Cimislia – Vulcanesti – Giurgiulesti, km 154 – 161 (segment Ciumai – Burlaceni) – the road segment is closed; km 197 – 211 (Vulcanesti – Slobozia mare segment) – the road segment is closed. Also, the traffic is blocked on the roads R 47 Cimislia – Iargara – Sarata Noua, km 20 – 25; R37 Ceadir-Lunga – Comrat – Cantemir, km 46 – 55; R36 Basarabeasca – Ceadir-Lunga- Taraclia, km 44 – 64; R35 Basarabeasca – Comrat, km 6 – 26; R 29 Bender – Cainari – Razeni, km 24 – 25; and R30 Anenii-Noi-Causeni-Stefan Voda-border with Ukraine, km 85- 95 (Stefan Voda district nearby the villages Olanesti – Tudora), where the traffic is difficult, and on some road segments the traffic takes place on one lane only.
Because of the strong wind, snow drifts have appeared on some segments of local roads, which temporarily triggers traffic interruptions, namely in the: Causeni district: local road local L 533 R31 Ucrainca- Zviozdocica – Tocuz-Sălcuţa; L 549 Căinari – Baurci – Codreni; L 548 Cirnatenii Noi-Coscalia-Plop; L 526 Bender-Chircaeşti - Ursoaia Noua- Firlădenii Noi-R29; Stefan Voda district: the villages Simeonovca, Brezoia, Stefaneşti, Slobozia, Copciac, Volintiri, Marianca de Sus, Alava and Caplani.
The same situation is recorded in the districts: Leova ( local road L 636 Congazcicul de Jos – Iargara, km 16 – 19 and the road L 593 R34 – Covurlui – Vozneseni, km 5 – 15); Vulcanesti (local road L705 M3 – Cismichioi- Etulia, km 9 – 12); Ceadir-Lunga: local road L649 Ceadir–Lunga – Congaz, km 2, 8 and 9; L 647 R37 – Joltai – Bezghioz – R36, km 3 – 5); Taraclia (L 669 Rosita – Sofievca- Hagichioi, km 5 – 16); Cahul (villages Iujnoie, Doina, Rumeantev and Iasnaia Poleana) and Cantemir: villages Constantinovca, Bobocica, Enichioi, Haragis, Visniovca, Caietu, Dimitrova and Samalia, on which the traffic remains difficult.    
As many as 254 specialized mechanisms, 174 road workers are involved in cleaning the snow, with more than 800 tons of anti-skid material scattered. The works are carried out 24 hours.
The aforementioned segments are patrolled jointly with representatives of the National Patrol Inspectorate of the Interior Ministry and, if necessary, temporary restrictions for the traffic of high-tonnage transport units are set. In case someone remained blocked on roads, he/she may call the phone number 022 748961 for help 24 hours.   
At the same time, the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service informed that, in the last 24 hours, rescuers had unlocked from snow drifts over 150 touring cars on Moldovan roads. Most vehicles were de-blocked in southern Moldova, where the blizzard was covering roads with snow. Thus, 72 transports units were taken out of snow by rescuers in the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia. The other cars stuck in snow were towed by firemen on roads in the districts of Cahul, Causeni, Stefan Voda, Basarabeasca, Cimislia, Ungheni, Anenii Noi and Chisinau.     
Moreover, employees of the Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service de-blocked three ambulances with patients stuck in snow on roads from the districts of Taraclia, Cahul and Anenii Noi. A pregnant woman from the Cazaclia settlement was urgently brought to the hospital of Taraclia. The mission was fulfilled by firemen, as other transport means were not able to reach this settlement. As many as 305 rescuers and firemen with 80 technology units have been involved in interventions. The Civil Protection and Emergency Situations Service continues to work in enhanced regime and people are asked to urgently call the 901 Service in cases of risk situations.     
For its part, the Customs Service informed about traffic restrictions recorded through the customs checkpoints Larga 1 and Grimancauti, because of impassable roads in the Ukrainian side.
At the same time, given the keeping of the unfriendly weather conditions, the Customs Service keeps its recommendation to the participants in the cross-border traffic to abstain from crossing the frontier through the customs checkpoints Palanca (high-tonnage transport), Tudora (high-tonnage transport), Saiti, Ceadir-Lunga 1, Ceadir-Lunga 2, Basarabeasca, Mirnii, Vulcanesti, Cismichioi and Lipcani. Drivers are not recommended to cross the border through the aforementioned checkpoints, because of snowed-up roads in the neighbour countries.  
Also, because of the formation of ice bridges on the Dniester river, the customs checkpoints of the landing stage type, Soroca and Cosauti, have temporarily ceased working.
The other border customs checkpoints work as normal, with no enhanced traffic recorded.
(Reporter N. Roibu, editor A. Raileanu)