The second bridge over the Danube between Romania and its neighbor Bulgaria, which was supposed to be opened at the beginning of May, will be inaugurated after more than a month's delay on June 15. The delay was announced by Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta. The bridge should have been finished by 2010, after its 2007 start, but the deadline was repeatedly put back.

Romania contributed to the creation of the 1.7 kilometer Calafat – Vidin bridge, but the bulk of the costs – 80 percent – were covered by Bulgaria.

Bulgaria, which invested EUR 226 million – or 80 percent of the total in the bridge - will have the majority of the revenues from the bridge toll. Romania invested some EUR 48 million. The toll system will have a display in Romanian, Bulgarian and English, and the bid for choosing the company that will create the electronic toll system is ongoing, with a deadline for offers on May 7. The system should be created in 20 days, at a cost of some EUR 30,000. The bridge was built by Spanish company FCC, which also built the Basarab overpass in the Romanian capital Bucharest, in partnership with Astaldi.

Once the bridge is open, the toll for cars passing it will be of EUR 2. For trucks between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes, the toll will be of EUR 12, and for trucks under 12 tonnes, of EUR 18. Tolls are similar to those for crossing the Ruse - Giurgiu bridge, the other bridge connecting the two countries. They are however much less than the cost of crossing the Danube via the ferry, which is EUR 92 for trucks. It will be free for pedestrians and for bicycles, according to Bulgarian media.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: danubebridge2.com)