Construction of 2 New Bulgaria-Romania Bridges to Start by 2017

The construction of the two new bridges Silistra - Calarasi and Nikopol - Turnu Magurele will start by 2017, according to Bulgaria's caretaker Transport Minister Nikolina Angelkova.

Angelkova explained Friday that the deadlines had been included in the bilateral memorandum on building two new bridges over the Danube.

She made clear that in the case of a decision to only build a road bridge, it would be implemented in 2019.

Angelkova, as cited by the BGNES news agency, declared that the first sitting of the Bulgaria-Romania working group would be held next week.

She said that the authorities were working on the application form for the funding for the design under the Bulgaria-Romania cross-border co-operation program 2014-2020.

Angelkova informed that the activities were to be wrapped up in two years for the two bridges, adding that opportunities for public-private partnership were being examined.

There are two bridges connecting Bulgaria and Romania at present. Danube Bridge Ruse - Giurgiu was launched in 1954, while Danube Bridge Vidin - Calafat was inaugurated in 2013.