Basarab flyover gets stuck on technicalities, to re-start only with state ordinance

The project, now ground to a halt after more than two years of construction works, was supposed to be finished this year.
Halfway through the works, a group of non-governmental organizations, led by Terra Mileniul III, went to court opposing the flyover, and last year the project was ruled a non-public utility, which makes it impossible for Bucharest City Hall to expropriate private land plots for the project.
Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu said he would ask the government to issue an ordinance to re-classify the project a public utility, and prime minister Emil Boc has already announced his support for the project.
The NGOs which oppose the project say construction would lead to the demolition of several historical buildings. They say they will go to court against the future government urgent ordinance and that the City Hall should conduct new studies for the project.
“Studies and expertise papers should be re-done. Its not just me saying this, there are experts saying the flyover will not relieve the traffic, but make it even worse for Victoriei Square. A public consultation is also needed,” said Catalina Radulescu, representative of Centrul de Resurse Juridice NGO.
The two-kilometer long flyover, a EUR 180 million investment, is expected to decrease the traffic around the North Railway Station area and connect Grozavesti and Nicolae Titulescu boulevards. The flyover is being built by Astaldi and FCC construction companies, which won the tender for the project.
Corina Saceanu