Romania’s Most Spectacular Road Set for Modernization

The contract for the development of the necessary documentation for the modernization of Transfăgărășan, on the section between km 104 – km 130+800, was signed with the winning bidder, Rutier Connex XXI S.R.L, Transport ministry officials announced.
The purpose of this feasibility study is to determine the technical solutions that would allow Transfăgărășan to be kept open throughout the year between Piscul Negru and Cabana Bâlea Cascada, such as:
– protective canopies made of concrete;
– road safety works;
– digital information panels at the entrances to Transfăgărășan (Curtea de Argeș/Cârtisoara) showing drivers the number of free parking spaces, weather conditions (wind/poles/temperatures);
– parking areas with spaces for traders and their charging;
– View Point;
– safe closure of the tunnel from Bâlea Lac;
– improving safety in black spots with a risk of accidents.
The value of the contract is 8.4 million lei, without VAT, the financing source being provided from non-refundable European funds, through the Transport Program 2021 – 2027. The duration of the contract is 12 months.
The route of this spectacular mountain road, which crosses the Făgăraş mountains offering splendid landscapes, has a length of 151 km, starts from Bascov commune, Argeș county and ends at the intersection with DN1 between Sibiu and Brașov, near Cârtisoara commune.

Transfăgărăşan was built upon the initiative of former communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. The aim was to provide a strategic road across the mountains, to be used mainly by the army. It was the context of the invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet troops in 1968, when Romania became a target for the Red Army. Until the construction of this highway, the Făgăras Mountains (southern Carpathians) could not be crossed even on horseback.

Fortunately, the USSR invasion did not take place. Instead, we have a spectacular road, but which required unimaginable human efforts.

Transfăgărăşan was build during 1970-1974 and connects the cities of Pitesti and Sibiu. During its construction were used mostly recruits.

According to the stories, the miners who dealt with the explosives were holding close to each other, building a human chain of around 30 people, in order not to be taken away by storm and thrown into the abyss.

Three million tons of rocks were dug with the help of six thousand tons of dynamite. Besides digging into the rock, most work has focused on the strengthening of the slopes. Officially, dozens were reported dead, unofficially there is rumour about hundreds.

Transfăgărăşan road has been seldom ranked as among the most beautiful roads in the world. Jeremy Clarkson, one of the then producers of ‘Top Gear’ said, seven years ago, after driving on Transfăgărăşan road, that it is the “most spectacular road in the world.”

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