A0 Nord ring road stays closed after planned Monday opening, CNAIR cites unfinished works

The opening that did not happen

Former state secretary Horațiu Cosma (USR) said on 20 October that traffic would open on Monday, 26 October, on both sectors of the A0 Nord, between Afumați, Pantelimon and the junction with the A2 motorway towards Constanța. The stretch totals about 13 km, split between lot 3 (Afumați-Pantelimon) and lot 4 (Pantelimon-Cernica). Traffic did not open on Monday, and Libertatea reported that Cosma's dismissal as state secretary took effect on 22 October.

Lot 3 is 8.6 km long and was built by a Chinese firm, which HotNews describes as the first and only motorway built by a Chinese company in Romania. Lot 4 is 4.4 km and was finished by UMB in June, but it cannot be used without the adjacent lot 3. HotNews notes that opening both lots would bring about 83 km of the 100 km A0 ring road into service.

Lot 3 Afumați-Pantelimon8.6

Lot 4 Pantelimon-Cernica4.4

Lot 3 Afumați-Pantelimon

8.6 km

Lot 4 Pantelimon-Cernica

4.4 km

Data from the article text

CNAIR says lot 3 is not ready

CNAIR spokesman Alin Șerbănescu told Libertatea that works remain on lot 3 and that traffic cannot yet be opened safely. He said the company would announce the opening date officially only after the works are finished and the reception takes place.

“There are still works to be carried out on lot 3 of the A0 North. So the traffic cannot yet be opened in safe and comfortable conditions.”

CNAIR also accused Cosma's statements of ignoring conditions on the ground and of causing public disinformation. HotNews said it tried to reach the spokesman for details on the remaining work and a new date, but he had not replied before publication. Drone images filmed over the weekend showed a nearly finished stretch where the contractor still had protective barriers to fit, according to HotNews.

Cosma's accusations of political delay

Cosma wrote on Facebook that Sorin Grindeanu and Cristian Pistol, the CNAIR director, had decided to stall for a few days. He said their political pride outweighed the cost to motorists and to public safety.

“They decided that their political pride is more important than the time lost in traffic, than the nerves and the safety of tens of thousands of people.”

Cosma claimed that a few hundred metres of parapets still had to be installed on the motorway body, a job of two to three days, and that Pistol had ordered the workers to take it easier on Grindeanu's orders. He cited earlier cases from Grindeanu's time as prime minister, saying the Sebeș-Turda motorway was finished but kept closed for months and that lot 3 of the Lugoj-Deva motorway was terminated at 99% completion. He also accused the PSD, now in government, of the same disregard for citizens.

Year-end target and local reaction

Ilfov County Council said the Afumați-Pantelimon and Pantelimon-Cernica (A2) sections would open by the end of the year, a stretch of about 13 km that it expects to ease traffic between Ilfov and Bucharest. Its president, Hubert Thuma, said the road gives tens of thousands of families a fast route to schools, nurseries and work.

“A0 is the fast route for tens of thousands of families who travel between Ilfov and Bucharest to schools, kindergartens and work.”

Thuma said the new road connects to county roads built by the council, to the A2, A1, A3 and DN1, and to DJ100 and, soon, DJ301. The council expects traffic times to fall significantly. CNAIR had not confirmed the year-end date at the time of reporting.