After nearly two decades of stagnation, the Suplacu de Barcău – Chiribiș section of the Transylvania Motorway is once again taking shape under the coordination of Erbașu Construction, one of Romania’s most reputable engineering companies.
🚧 What Is Happening Now
Work has resumed at a fast pace on one of the most challenging and symbolic motorway sections — abandoned after the failure of the Bechtel contract. The general contractor, Erbașu Construction, managed in record time to restart operations and bring the project to a 60% completion rate.
This marks not only a step forward for Romania’s transport infrastructure but also a demonstration of local engineering capacity and management discipline.
🛣️ From Bechtel’s Legacy to a Romanian Comeback
The Suplacu de Barcău – Chiribiș segment was launched almost 20 years ago by the American company Bechtel, but the contract was terminated in 2013 after significant delays and cost overruns. For a decade, unfinished viaducts and bridge pillars stood as symbols of bureaucratic inertia.
In 2025, the situation changed. Once the construction permit was obtained, Erbașu Construction reopened the site, introducing strict project management standards and transparent progress monitoring. The completion deadline — October 2026 — is now considered realistic by CNAIR, Romania’s National Road Infrastructure Company (source: CNAIR 2025).
“This project proves that Romanian companies can deliver large-scale works at European standards,” a CNAIR source told PSNews.ro.
🧱 Erbașu: A Romanian Leader in Complex Infrastructure
Founded in 1990, Erbașu Construction evolved from a family-owned enterprise into a national construction group with more than 3,000 employees and a turnover exceeding 2 billion lei (≈ €400 million) in 2023.
Its portfolio includes:
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Cluj Regional Emergency Hospital
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Steaua Stadium (Bucharest)
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Bucharest Polytechnic Campus
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Oradea Multipurpose Arena
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Major road and water infrastructure projects
Across all projects, quality execution, on-time delivery, and reliability have defined the company’s reputation as a trusted partner for both public and private clients.
🌍 Why It Matters
The Suplacu–Chiribiș segment is a strategic link in the Transylvania Motorway (A3), connecting Romania’s north-west region to the Pan-European Transport Corridor IV. Its completion will significantly reduce transit time between Oradea, Cluj, and Central Europe, enhancing Romania’s logistical competitiveness.📅 When We’ll Drive on It
If the current pace is maintained, traffic could open in late 2026, marking the first time in nearly two decades that this section becomes fully operational.
🔗 Verified Sources
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