Modernization Works Complete On Romania - Hungary Road Connection

Paula Bulzan,Arad

The Arad County Council has accepted the works performed within the project titled "Rehabilitation of County Road No. 792C, from Curtici to the junction with County Road 79, Phase II" within the programme PHARE CBC/INTERREG IIIA Romania - Hungary 2005. According to Arad County Council Chairman Nicolae Iotcu, the Bekes County Council (Hungary) is a partner in the 12-month project.

"The total value of the investment is 1,066,000 EUR, of which the grant covered 799,500 EUR. Of the latter amount, 599,625 EUR came from PHARE CBC. The Arad County Council disbursed a co-financing of 266,500 EUR," said Iotcu. Of the total length of 7.2 kilometres between Curtici and the junction with County Road 79, a section of 3.5 kilometres was rehabilitated in Phase 1. The technical project was made for the entire section. The funds required to rehabilitate the remaining 3.7 kilometres will be requested via the CBC/INTERREG IIIA Romania - Hungary 2006 programme.

The rehabilitation of County Road 792C between Curtici and the junction with County Road 79 is part of a common concept developed by the authorities of Arad County (Romania) and Bekes County (Hungary) to rehabilitate cross-border roads and two roads alongside the borderline. In Romania, the route alongside the borderline goes through Pecica - Turnu - Dorobanti - Macea - Sanmartin - Graniceri - Pilu. The corresponding route in Hungary crosses Mezohegyes - Battonya - Dombegyhaz - Kevermes - Lokoshaza - Elek - Gyula.

Two of the connecting roads (Variasu Mic - Dombegyhaz and Graniceri - Elek) have been rehabilitated by Romania via the PHARE programme CBC 2004 / INTERREG IIIA Romania - Hungary. The rehabilitation of the Curtici - Dorobanti section has already been approved by the Romanian Government and will be financed from budget reserves. The connecting road between Curtici and Lokoshaza will be rehabilitated at the same time as the roads alongside the border line.

The project Rehabilitation of County Road No. 792C, from Curtici to the junction with County Road 79" will contribute to the improvement of the road infrastructure in the border area as well as of cross-border traffic of travellers and freight, thus revitalizing economic, cultural and tourist exchanges in the Romanian - Hungarian border area.