Sibiu–Bacău Motorway

The Sibiu–Bacău Motorway (Romanian: Autostrada Sibiu–Bacău) is a planned motorway in Romania, with some sections currently under construction. It is intended to connect the counties of Sibiu, Brașov, Covasna and Bacău, along a total estimated length of approximately 282 kilometres (175 miles). The project is divided into three main sections: Boița – Făgăraș, Făgăraș – Brașov (also part of the A3 motorway), and Brașov – Răcăciuni.

History and status

From Boița (junction with A1), it will follow the Olt River valley before running through Avrig, Cârțișoara, Voila to a junction with A3 east of Făgăraș, with which it intersects until west of Brașov, where there's another junction with A3. The Făgăraș – Brașov section will be shared with A3 motorway.

This 120 km (75 mi) long section was initially planned as an expressway as an alternative to the National Road 1 (DN1) between Sibiu and Făgăraș at 72.57 kilometres (45.09 mi) long and with an estimated cost of 614 mil. €. In 2013, the Romanian government has reportedly changed the plans in order to provide the connection from Sibiu to Bucharest alternative to A1 via Pitești as part of the Trans European Transport Network, thus implementing it as a motorway rather than expressway.

The section between Brașov and Bacău was initially designated as the A5 motorway, which was planned to link Brașov to the city of Bacău through the Oituz Pass. Following the decision to merge this corridor with the Boița–Făgăraș–Brașov route, the project was reclassified and incorporated into the A13 motorway, thus forming a single continuous west–east connection between Sibiu and Bacău.