Romania Largest ecoduct in the country under construction
The builders of Romania’s most important and difficult stretch of the A1 highway (Sibiu-Pitești, across the Carpathian mountains) are set to start the construction of a bridge over 300 meters long and at least 100 meters wide, allowing the animals of the Southern Carpathians to cross from one side to the other.
The investment will be extremely beneficial especially for large mammals but also for people, according to Ionuț Ciurea, executive director of the Pro Infrastructure Association (API), one of the most active civic organizations monitoring major infrastructure projects in the country. "The DN7 road, as it is now, heavily trafficked, especially by heavy vehicles, is not, technically speaking, permeable. It acts as a barrier for animals that cannot cross from one side to the other over the Olt Valley. Traffic is the main obstacle; animals are frightened and avoid the area due to noise and traffic. In this part of the Southern Carpathians, ecological corridors for large mammals are absolutely interrupted," says Ciurea.
That will change with the new ecoduct. Construction work on the mountainous sections of the A1 Sibiu – Pitești highway began this year. The ecoduct will be built near the town of Cornetu, where the A1 highway to Sibiu will enter the Olt Valley between the mountains. The structure will ensure ecological connectivity between the Mountains Căpățânii, Cozia and Făgăraș, reducing the impact of infrastructure on natural habitats.
The ecoduct will have a minimum width of 100 meters, making it the widest bridge ever built in Romania. It is so large because it is designed to facilitate the crossing of three obstacles: the DN7 road, the CF201 railway line, and the Olt River. Among the species that could benefit of this eco infrastructure are: the bear, roe deer, red deer, hare, wild boar, wolf, lynx, wild cat, squirrel, weasel, and the otter.
This ecoduct is part of the contract for Section 3 (37.4 km) of the A1 Sibiu – Pitești highway, signed in 2022 with the Italian company WeBuild for approximately EUR 1.08 billion. "The proposed solution is intended to be the best crossing option for wildlife within the ecological corridor, allowing them to move freely without interacting with one or more of the previously mentioned physical barriers," National Roads Company (CNAIR) explained to HotNews publication. Its construction is scheduled to begin in June 2025, with completion expected in early 2027.
This stretch of the A1 highway – along today's very busy Olt Valley road – has actually been known since ancient times. The gorge, which connects Transylvania to Wallachia via the Făgăraș and Lotrului Mountains, was used by Roman armies during the wars with the Dacians in the early 2nd century.
In addition to the large planned ecoduct, another one is foreseen in Section 2 (Boița - Cornetu) of the same highway, with a length of 210 meters. In total, the contract provides for the construction of 96 bridges and viaducts, as well as a 1.7-kilometer tunnel in Valcea county.
Three similar but smaller ecoducts have already been built on the Lugoj-Deva stretch of the A1 highway in the west of the country. Two of them are 80 meters wide, linking the Poiana Ruscă and Apuseni mountains. The area is considered optimal for the movement of large carnivores and is recognized as an ecological corridor. The third ecoduct, almost 100 meters wide is protected by 100 sound-absorbing panels. All three western ecoducts were completed in 2019.