Green light for the construction of the motorway linking Timisoara to Belgrade

The construction of the 73-kilometre-long A9 motorway between Timișoara and Timișoara, agreed upon by Romania and Serbia in 2022, has been brought forward. The Timis County Environmental Agency recently approved the construction of the motorway, according to the news portal Timis Online news portal, citing transtelex.ro.

The motorway would start from the A1 motorway at Timisoara and reach the Serbian border at Timisoara and Vejte , in the region of Temesmora, providing a motorway link to Belgrade.

According to the Environment Agency, the proposed route of the A9 motorway, although it will affect the Timis floodplain nature protection areas Natura 2000 (ROSCI0109 and ROSPA0128) and the Basos Arboretum, will not endanger them, provided that environmental recommendations are respected.

The feasibility study was already commissioned to Search Corporation in March 2020, but the May 2022 deadline has been extended 12 times until the beginning of 2024, most recently to October 2024. This is due in large part to the delay in the client's decisions on the route and classification (motorway or motorway).

The planned works of the investment according to Timis Online:

According to APM Timiș, the main works foreseen in the project are:

- infrastructure and superstructure works, embankments (excavations, embankments, etc.);

- embankment stabilisation works (embankment slopes, weak foundation areas and groundwater drainage works);

- hydro-technical works;

- works of art (bridges and passages, construction of footbridges, etc.);

- construction of road junctions in crossroads or at intersections with other communication routes;

- road safety works;

- water collection and evacuation works;

- environmental works (e.g. sound absorbing panels, fences, underpasses for wildlife, etc.);

- specific road infrastructure construction works - parking lots, service areas, maintenance and coordination centre (CIC), border crossing.

- protecting removal works and equipment.

The motorway would be built with EU funding.