Danube Bridge-2 Construction Launched in Bulgaria

On May 13 Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev symbolically gave start to the Danube Bridge-2 construction works. The bridge will connect the Bulgarian town of Vidin to the Romanian Calafat over the Danube River.

Investment in the infrastructure project will reach 236 million euro. Nearly 226 million euro will be needed for construction and 10 million will be allocated to consultancy and research.

Construction will end in 38 months. The entire length of the bridge is 1971m. Danube Bridge will have four highway lanes and one rail line. Additional infrastructure will be set up.

Spanish company Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) will carry out the project. Funding comes from the European PHARE and ISPA programs, the European Investment Bank, European financial institutions and the national budget.

Danube Bridge-2 is of importance for Bulgaria and for the EU, Stanishev said. The bridge will expand the capacity of trans-European corridor IV, he said. Good transport networks also mean production growth and economic developments, Stanishev said.

The construction of the bridge is one of the Cabinet priorities as it will enable Bulgaria join the European transport network and improve the quality of transportation services offered.