Better connection of Alexandria and Cherven Bryag to TEN-T

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The project addresses important common challenges related to not well developed transport infrastructure in the RO-BG cross-border area. The accessibility to TEN-T infrastructures for the main urban centers is far better than for the small/mediumsized cities, especially along the Danube. It is then a priority to bridge the accessibility gap between peripheral rural and urban regions and regional economic centers. Both Alexandria and Cherven Bryag are tertiary nodes but not well connected to TEN-T transport network, situation that leads to poor competitiveness, mobility and traffic issues. The quality of infrastructure networks is a major factor to attract firms and their investments. The most important barrier to road infrastructure development for the two municipalities is the financial barrier. The overall objective of the project is to ensure better connectivity at the TEN-T for Alexandria and Cherven-Bryag in a safety traffic conditions. The development of transport networks in the cross-border region will facilitate interregional cooperation and will help to increase competitiveness of the business sector, labor mobility and, however, to sustainable regional development. Rehabilitation of road infrastructure, respectively 4500,20 m in Alexandria and 8000 m in Cherven-Bryag will improve safety traffic conditions, competitiveness of both municipalities, will allow better exploitation of tourism potential and will improve the cooperation capacity of the partners in transport and safety traffic issues. A rehabilitated road infrastructure will allow for improved travel time and predictability for a journey, help reduce pollution, help to limiting traffic jams. The project aims to contribute to the consolidation of a sustainable European and cross-border transport system connected to the main TEN-T network. All the activities that will be carried out in the project contribute to the achievement of the Programme output and result indicators targeted by this call, as follows: I1 – Total length of reconstructed and upgraded roads is 12,5 km, which represent 31,20% from the Programme indicator to be achieved by the present call; I2 – Number of joint mechanisms (a best practice guide for the road intervention/construction to limit the duration, discomfort, risk and pollution, black-spot maps for areas of both municipalities, awareness raising campaign, a driver guide) to facilitate the connection of tertiary nodes to TEN-T infrastructure: 5, which is 22,73% from the Programme indicator to be achieved by the present call; I5 - Financial indicator: 7960000 euro, which is 15,8 % from the indicator to be achieved by the present call for the Priority Axis 1; I6 - Cross border population served by modernized infrastructure leading to TEN-T: 74.648 inhabitants, which is 11,97 % from the Program target. The project emphasizes the cross-border area need for an enhanced and transport network. The current infrastructure grid reflects the concept of the frontier as “dead-end” leading not only to low connectivity between the two countries but also to low accessibility of cross-border areas to own existing national infrastructure major corridors. Regional mobility is a condition for a balanced regional development and for an equal access to education, employment and public services. In order to capitalize the advantages of the geographic location, the two municipalities need adequate road infrastructure connected to the main European and cross-border transport nodes. Although Alexandria is not situated at the border with Bulgaria, but in cross-border area, the roads proposed for rehabilitation are not only of local importance, because the city is located at the TEN-T network (core Dr. Tr. Severin–Craiova–Bucharest) and respectively the rehabilitation of the roads will improve connection to the tertiary node Rosiorii de Vede and to the crossing points Zimnicea–Svishtov and Turnu Magurele–Nikopol. Also, Cherven Bryag is an tertiary node to TEN-T and the rehabilitated roads aren’t only of local importance, but connecting the municipality (with localities Telish and Devenci) to the core TEN-T infrastructure Cherven Bryag – Pleven. The project will contribute to the following results: reduction of the gap between peripheral, badly accessible regions and well-connected urban centers, improvement of the connectivity between Romania and Bulgaria: effective connection of tertiary nodes to the core network TEN-T to reduce transportation time and optimizing logistics by improved traffic management including black spot maps, incidents/emergencies detection and management, improvement of safety, security and environmental performance. The modernization of infrastructures does not means only to rehabilitate roads but also to enhance the overall transport planning and management of the area. Road reconstructions or upgrading go along with an improved technology in order to alert traffic participants by electronic warning panels, to share information throughout the cross-border area, in other words to make transportations facilities easier and safer for the user. So, it will be done a best practice guideline on roads interventions about specific requirements for tender book (specific conditions) towards the road constructor to ensure safety, fluidity of the traffic during construction works and optimize the duration of the works. It will be done Blackspot Maps for both partners that will show where road casualties are highly concentrated. For disabilities persons will be special facilities, like acoustic and movable traffic lights, guide bands for blinds etc. The project will be a solid experience for the administrative cooperation on common challenges and for future collaborations. By implementing the project, will be carried out awareness raising campaign in order to: promote better connectivity in cross border region, foster eco-driving skills, promote sustainable mobility habits, promote the advantages of using the rehabilitates roads. A driver guide will provide information regarding safe driving tips, road rules in both countries, driver education, and the risks of alcohol, drugs and speeding. In Alexandria, the Traffic monitoring center will manage the new electronic warning panels from the rehabilitated roads. The materials used in the construction works will be modern and environmentally friendly. The results of project implementation are sustainable and might be considered a proper initial framework for the implementation of other border area development joint programs, in terms of economic trade, labor mobility, urban-rural disparities elimination, educational and cultural exchanges etc. The total budget of the project is 7.960.000 euro.

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