Two foreign consortia placed final bids for the 58 km Comarnic-Brasov motorway concession, announced the department for large infrastructure projects and foreign investments (DPIIS) of Romania:

• A consortium of Vinci (France), Strabag (Austria) and Aktor Concession (Greece), and
• A consortium of Impregilo SpA and Salini SpA.(Italy both)

Romania's UMB Spedition, a highway construction firm controlled by local businessperson Dorinel Umbrarescu, gave up its intention to submit an offer. According to sources, China Communications Constructions Company Ltd. had also been shortlisted for the project. However, we don't have information on why they did not finally bid.

The DPIIS said the winning bidder will be announced on December 20, 2013.

The highway should be completed by the end of 2016, according to Narcis Neaga, general manager of the national roads and highways company CNADNR. The new projects is designed to ease traffic on the National Road 1 (DN1).

During the tender phase representatives of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) met with the Romanian Minister delegate for Infrastructure Projects of National Interest and Foreign Investments, Dan Sova to show their willingness to finance the project.

Construction works are estimated at €1.2 to €1.3 billion, according to Dan Sova.