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04. 08. 09. - 15:00

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04. 08. 09. - 15:00

Construction of largest motorway viaduct ends

Michael Leidig

The US construction firm Bechtel said it has finished building the biggest viaduct on the 2B Campia Turzii–Gilau segment of the Transylvania Highway.

The one kilometre-long viaduct over the Aries River in western Romania is 23 meters high.

Construction of it began in 2007, but work on it was delayed for lack of funding, Bechtel said yesterday (Mon).

Bechtel said 43 road structures, including a viaduct at Suplacu de Barcau in Bihor county in western Romania, would be built on the 3C segment of the Transylvania Highway. Work will be resumed at another four locations on the 3C segment.

The construction of the highway, linking the central Romanian city of Brasov to Bors on the western border with Hungary, started in 2004 based on a 2.2-billion-Euro contract awarded to Bechtel. Work was halted in mid-2005, when authorities started looking into contracts awarded during the previous administration. That caused a one-year setback in construction work.

Under an agreement concluded in February by Bechtel and the Romanian Transport Ministry, the US firm is set to complete 42 kilometres of the highway this year, for which the ministry will pay it 420 million Euros.

The entire highway is due for completion in 2013.

Government to introduce ‘Robin Hood’ tax on oil companies
Minister of Economy Daniel Chitoiu announced today (Weds) that the government is working on a piece of legislation on introducing a supplementary tax on the exceptional incomes of the oil companies that should be passed by the year end and implemented as of 2013.

Education Minister stepps down amid plagiarism accusations
Ioan Mang, the education minister appointed only two weeks ago together with the new cabinet of Social Liberal Union (USL) leader Victor Ponta, resigned Tuesday (yesterday) night.

Brancusi’s son doesn’t want his father remains to be moved to Romania
John Moore, the only child of sculpture Constantin Brancusi, reacted to Romania’s intention to repatriate the remains of his father, saying his last will was to be buried in Paris at Montparnasse, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Weds).

Romania back in recession, growth to resume in H2
Romania officially entered recession today, following the figures published by the National Statistics Institute (NSI) that show a decrease of the GDP for two consecutive quarters (Q).

Police head sacked over underground boss runaway row
The head of the Romanian Police Liviu Popa (picture) was sacked today (Tues) by Home Affairs Minister Ioan Rus, the ministry informs.

UK Ambassador Harris says new Cabinet took right decisions so far
The UK Ambassaodr in Romania, Martin Harris says Victor Ponta’s new government got off on the right foot by making clear that its economic policy will continue to be framed within the programme agreed between Romania and the EU, World Bank, and IMF.

Carmen Sylvas x-rayed hand to be auctioned
A x-ray of the left hand of Romanian Queen Elisabeta will be auctioned in Bucharest by Artmark auction house, Libertatea newspaper informs today (Tue).

Rising handbal player hangs herself because of family quarels
A rising star of the Romanian handball was found hanged on Sunday (yesterday) in her family apartment in Drobeta Turnu Severin (South West), Romania TV news channel informs today.

Triumphant welcome in Bucharest for the national gymnastic team
The national team of gymnasts returned home today at noon from the European Championship held on Saturday and Sunday in Brussels, and was welcomed by a numerous crowd at the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest.

Sorin Oprescu to win in a landslide, poll suggests
An opinion poll released today (Mon) makes the current Mayor Sorin Oprescu favourite for the Bucharest municipal elections, Realitatea TV news channel informs.