Work On Hwy Sector In SE Romania To Be Resumed By Yearend – Transport Minister

According to the minister, work will start by the end of the year.

The roads authority said in a press release earlier Monday it informed Colas that it would cancel its construction contract for the highway section and would organize a new auction.

According to CNADNR, the French constructor repeatedly refused to carry on with the highway sector's construction, citing various reasons for delays.

Colas has finished the design of only six kilometers of the 20-kilometer motorway project and failed to obtain the necessary construction authorizations, while asking for more funds, said the authority.

In March, CNADNR gave Colas until April 15 to carry on with the section's construction, or the contract would be terminated.

Transport Minister Anca Boagiu said early March that Colas requested an extra EUR8 million, as the highway's route has changed. She added that the ministry could terminate the contract with the French constructor, because it was "refusing to work."

Following the minister's statement, Colas said it was given authorization and the land for only six kilometers and was waiting for the official decision on the remaining 14 kilometers.

"Out of the 20 kilometers that the motorway project comprises, a single 5-km section was handed over to Colas on July 12, 2010. Colas mobilized all necessary resources and has been actively at work on the section since this date," said a Colas press release in March.

"On March 22, 2011, land was handed over and building permit notification was provided regarding a second 1.2-km long section, enabling Colas to begin work immediately. As for the remaining 14-km section - the trace of which should be modified following archeological digs in 2009, Colas is waiting

According to Colas, it won the design and construction contract for the Cernavoda-Medgidia section in March 2009 and received the order to start works on June 4, 2009. "The project was initially scheduled to be completed in two years' time, and land was to be handed over to the company on June 15, 2009," says the press release.

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