A2 motorway (Romania)

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A2 motorway
Autostrada A2
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Route information
Maintained by Compania Națională de Autostrăzi și Drumuri Naționale din România
Length: 206 km[1][2] (128 mi)
Major junctions
From: Bucharest
To: Constanța (Junction with A4)
Location
Counties: Ilfov, Călărași, Ialomița, Constanța
Major cities: Bucharest, Fetești, Cernavodă, Medgidia, Constanța
Highway system
Motorways in Romania
Oldest section of the motorway, Cernavodă bridges system (over Danube) inaugurated in 1987
File:A2 romania.jpg
A2 motorway
File:Autostrada Soarelui.jpg
A2 motorway runs parallel with CFR Line 800 for many kilometers
A2 motorway between Medgidia and Constanța

The A2 motorway (Romanian: Autostrada A2), also known as The Sun Motorway (Romanian: Autostrada Soarelui), is a motorway in Romania which links Bucharest with Constanța, a city-port on the shore of the Black Sea, where it merges after an interchange into the A4 motorway.[3] It is 206 km long,[1][2] and has been operational on its entire length since November 2012.

History

The construction of the motorway between Bucharest and Constanța began in the communist era during Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime. The first section, from Fetești to Cernavodă (about 18 km), was opened in 1987 and underwent a major rehabilitation in 2003. It crosses the Balta Ialomiței island and includes the Cernavodă Bridge complex system of motorway and railway bridges and viaducts over the Danube and one of its branches at Cernavodă. The motorway bridge passes under the historical railway bridge built by Anghel Saligny in 1896, while the new railway in use today separates the motorway roadways.

After the fall of the communism in 1989, construction continued for a short period, but it was finally stopped in 1993 due to lack of financial resources. Construction continued after 1998, the motorway being completed in late 2012.

The sector from Bucharest to Fetești crosses the Bărăgan Plain and was built between 2001 and 2007. It was split into four sections. The first section from Bucharest to Fundulea (26.5 km) was built by the Romanian company Romis and is surfaced with concrete slabs. The second section from Fundulea to Lehliu (29.2 km) was built by a Turkish joint venture between Yuksel, Makimsar and Ener, while the third section from Lehliu to Drajna (41.6 km) was built by the French company Colas. The three sections were completed in 2004.[4] The fourth, from Drajna to Fetești (36.8 km), was built by a joint venture between Astaldi, Max Bögl and CCCF, and was completed in 2007, receiving financial support from the ISPA funds.[5]

The sector from Cernavodă to Constanța (51.3 km) runs across the Dobrogea Plateau and was built between 2009 and 2012, receiving financial resources from the European Union's Cohesion Fund and from the European Investment Bank. It was built by a joint venture between Astaldi and Max Bögl, and was completed in late 2012.[6] The section from Cernavodă to Medgidia was initially awarded to the French company Colas, but the contract was terminated in April 2011, because of delays in the construction process.[7] It was subsequently awarded to the new constructor in September 2011.[8]

The total distance between Bucharest and Constanța on the motorway is approximately 206 km.[1][2] It includes a 3.8 km link segment at the eastern end,[9][10] that was part of the construction contract for the A4 motorway,[11] which serves as the Constanța bypass. It has seven exits and ten rest areas on each carriageway, five being served by filling stations. There is one toll gate along the route, at Fetești (km 144), where a tax is charged for crossing the Danube bridges.[12][13]

During summer, heavy traffic (maximum permissible weight over 7.5 t) is forbidden to drive on the motorway on weekends (including Friday) at daylight hours (from 6 A.M. to 12 A.M.).[14]

It is planned that the motorway will be prolonged to the Bulgarian border, after the European Union accepted in November 2010 to include the segment from Constanța to Vama Veche into the planned Trans-European Network.[15]

Openings timeline

  • In October 1987, the 17.2 km segment FeteștiCernavodă was opened for traffic. The segment was closed for traffic again in September 2006 for complete rebuilding and reopened in 2007.
  • On 4 June 2004, two segments opened for traffic: BucharestFundulea (26.5 km) and FunduleaLehliu (29.2 km).
  • In November 2004, the 42 km segment LehliuDrajna was opened for traffic.
  • In June 2006, the 17.2 km segment FeteștiCernavodă was re-opened for traffic, after major rehabilitation works.
  • Between 1 July and 15 September 2006, the 36.8 km segment DrajnaFetești temporarily opened for traffic in both ways but only on one carriageway.
  • On 1 May 2007, the 36.8 km segment DrajnaFetești was re-opened for traffic.
  • On 29 July 2011, the MurfatlarConstanța segment (21 km, including a part of A4) was inaugurated (initially, on two of the total four lanes).[16]
  • On 30 September 2011, the MurfatlarConstanța segment was completed and opened on both carriageways.[17]
  • On 19 July 2012, the CernavodăMedgidia segment (20.5 km) was opened for traffic on a single carriageway, and the MedgidiaMurfatlar segment (16.3 km) was opened on both carriageways.[18]
  • On 29 November 2012, the Cernavodă – Medgidia segment (20.5 km) was opened for traffic on both carriageways.[19]

Exit list

Exits and buildings (Eastbound)
Bucharest – Constanța (206 km)
Motorway km 11 Theodor Pallady Blvd, Bucharest
Exit km 12 Bucharest Ring Road CB opened 2004
Exit km 18 Cernica / Bălăceanca DC55 opened 2015
Exit km 35 Fundulea DN3 opened 2004
Service area km 48 OMV
Exit km 64 Lehliu Gară DN3 opened 2004
Service area km 66 Petrom
Service area km 74 Parking
Service area km 88 Litro
Service area km 98 Parking
Exit km 105 Drajna / Slobozia, Călărași DN3ADN21 opened 2007
Service area km 111 OMV
Service area km 120 Parking
Service area km 131 Parking
Exit km 139 Litro
Exit km 142 Fetești DN3ADN3B opened 1987, rebuilt 2007
Toll gate km 144 Toll gate opened 1987
Bridge km 145 Fetești Bridge (over Borcea branch of the Danube) opened 1987
Exit km 146 U-turn exit
Exit km 157 U-turn exit eastbound only
Bridge km 158 Cernavodă Bridge (over Danube) opened 1987
Exit km 160 Cernavodă DN22C opened 1987, rebuilt 2012 as exit
Exit km 192 Medgidia / Murfatlar, Ostrov DJ381 opened 2012
Service area km 196 Parking opened 2012
Bridge km 203 Danube–Black Sea Canal opened 2011
Service area km 205 Parking opened 2012
Interchange km 212 Mangalia, Constanța South / Tulcea, Constanța West A4 opened 2011

See also

References

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External links