site.btaRomanian Road Infrastructure Company: Two-Month Closure of Giurgiu-Ruse Bridge Disrupts Traffic

The Giurgiu-Ruse bridge, jointly operated by Romania and Bulgaria, will undergo rehabilitation on the Bulgarian side, beginning July 9 for a duration of two months. The closure is expected to significantly disrupt both freight and tourist traffic, the Managing Director of the Romanian Road Infrastructure Company (CNAIR), Cristian Pistol, told Agerpres at a Wednesday press-conference.

"The bridge at Giurgiu-Ruse is administered bilaterally, with CNAIR managing the Romanian half and the Bulgarian Road Infrastructure Company overseeing the Bulgarian half. We have had numerous discussions with our Bulgarian partners, who deem it necessary to completely close their section starting July 9, causing significant inconvenience for both goods and tourist traffic between Romania and Bulgaria. Despite our efforts to postpone or reschedule the closure, we could reach an agreement with the Bulgarian side," Pistol said.

Asked about the bridge closure, he confirmed that, based on information available at the time, the entire bridge would be closed, not just one lane. He added that on the Romanian side the bridge was rehabilitated, but on this occasion a series of maintenance works will be done there as well.

Transport Minister Sorin Grindeanu also spoke at the press-conference. "My colleagues tried to have this discussion with their Bulgarian counterparts. Unfortunately, as Mr. Pistol said, they did not accept the delay of the works and did not accept anything else."