A higher number of cars than were initially estimated crossed the new bridge over Danube connecting Romania and Bulgaria in the first six months after its opening.

Around 280,000 cars passed the new bridge, which was opened in June 2013. Heavy traffic was predominant during this period.

This year, officials expect more people wanting to reach Greece and Asia to use the connection and pass the bridge.

Vladimir Andreev, the director of the Bulgarian – Romanian company which manages the bridge and which collects the bridge toll, expects Turkish migrants who work in Western Europe to pass this bridge as well.

Connecting Vidin in Bulgaria and Calafat in Romania, the EUR 282 million four-lane bridge is part of the Pan-European transport corridor IV with EUR 106 million of its funds coming from EU funds and the rest from national and private sources. It also includes a rail crossing, pedestrian crossing and bike path as well as a border checkpoint. The bridge was paved in April and launched in mid-June 2013 only a month after the only other bridge between the Balkan neighbours, the Danube 1 bridge, linking Ruse and Giurgiu, was clogged with traffic because of a pothole.

About 415,000 vehicles were expected to pass through the 1.8 km long bridge in its first year of operation – 186,000 cars, 20,000 buses, 209,000 trucks as well as 4,745 trains – 730 passenger and 4,015 freight ones.

The toll is the same as the one in Ruse – from EUR 6 to EUR 37, depending on the type of vehicle, while pedestrians, cyclists and emergency services are exempt from charges.

editor@romania-insider.com