Suspension cables for Romania’s €500 million (US$608 million) Brăila Bridge over the Danube River are now being connected to the structure’s twin towers.
The Astaldi and IHI Infrastructure Systems joint venture won the tender for the 2km-long bridge in early 2018. The two companies signed a cooperation agreement in May 2018 to pursue large projects such as the Brăila Bridge deal. Astaldi is based in Rome and IHI - formerly known as Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries - is headquartered in Tokyo.
Astaldi and IHI have a history of cooperation, such as for construction of the Osman Gazi Bridge in Turkey - the world’s 4th longest suspension bridge - and part of the Gebze-Orhangazi-Izmir Motorway, also in Turkey.
The Brăila Bridge will connect Brăila, a major city in eastern Romania, and the opposite bank of the river in Tulcea County. It will be Romania’s fourth bridge over the Danube as well as the third longest bridge in Europe.
The main span will be 1.12km long with an approach span of nearly 500m on the Brăila bank of the river and 365m on the Tulcea bank of the river. There will be two 110m access viaducts on both sides and 23km connecting road.
Meanwhile, Romania said that the final draft of the National Resilience and Recovery Plan is under review by European Union authorities, includes a significant allocation for its road infrastructure. Romania is set to have 434km of new motorways by 2026, alongside electric vehicle 52 charging stations, 18 monitored car parks developed along motorways and 625 hectares of environmental improvements.
Romanian media report that in total, Romania is set to receive €29.2 billion ($35.6 billion) in funds through the plan, with the funds having to be accessed no later than 31 December 2023.
