Route Option No. 3 for the Constanța–Tulcea Express Road Approved; Contract Extended to 2026

The contract for preparing the feasibility study and technical design for the Constanța–Tulcea express road, signed in 2020, has undergone multiple revisions over the past five years. A new amendment adopted in 2025 has resulted in the extension of the contract until 2026.

The beneficiary of the project is CNAIR SA, while design services are provided by the consortium Search Corporation SRL – Egis Romania SA. The design contract has increased from 17.85 million lei (2020) to over 26 million lei (2025), reflecting additional analytical and technical requirements.

At the 2025 meeting of the CNAIR Technical-Economic Council, the documentation for the multi-criteria analysis (Stage 2) was reviewed and approved, establishing Route Option No. 3 as the optimal alignment.

Key Characteristics of Route Option No. 3

The express road will span 121 km, crossing the counties of Constanța and Tulcea and covering 14 administrative units:
Ovidiu, Mihail Kogălniceanu, Lumina, Cojealac, Fântânele, Mihai Viteazu, Baia, Ceamurlia de Jos, Babadag, Mihai Bravu, Mihail Kogălniceanu, Nalbant, Frecăței, Tulcea.

Following the completion of the feasibility study and technical design, procurement procedures for construction works will be launched. Until the approval of the technical-economic indicators, the start date for construction cannot be estimated.

IDR Comment

According to the Institute for Danube Research, the approval of Route Option 3 represents a significant step in strengthening transport connectivity in South-Eastern Romania and the Lower Danube region.

1. Regional Importance

The project will:

• improve travel times between the Black Sea coast and Tulcea, the gateway to the Danube Delta;
• strengthen logistics flows toward the Port of Constanța;
• enhance the investment attractiveness of the Dobrogea region.

2. Contribution to the Danube Macro-Region

The express road may support:

• better alignment with the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR),
• development of sustainable tourism and green mobility in Tulcea County,
• improved connectivity with Ukraine and future cross-border transport routes.

3. Need for Ecological Oversight

Given the proximity to sensitive landscapes and Natura 2000 areas, IDR emphasises:

• the need for strategic environmental assessment;
• measures to mitigate impacts on steppe and wetland ecosystems;
• full compliance with EU environmental directives.

“Approval of the alignment is a crucial step. The priority now is to finalise the feasibility study to high technical standards and ensure full environmental integration of the future express road into the wider Danube transport corridors,”
— IDR stated.