OREANDA-NEWS. September 21, 2012. Reconstruction of the 93 km-long segment of the Sarateni - Soroca road valued at USD 100 mln. approximately has been started in Moldova.
The project is backed in the framework of the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact program, financed by the US government. It has been started by Premier of Moldova Vladimir Filat and US Ambassador to Moldova William Moser. They visited the construction site of ONUR Taahhnut Tasimacilik Ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. and SUMMA Turizm Yatirimciligi A.S., the consortium of Turkish companies which together with Strabag AG, Austria, won the tender for rehabilitation of segments of the Sarateni-Soroca road.

In particular, companies ONUR and SUMMA are to repair the 44.0 –km-long segment leading from Sarateni to the entrance to Ghindesti. The contracts with the Turkish companies are valued at USD49.4 mln. The 48.1 km-long segment of the road between the entry to Ghindesti and the Drochia intersection is to be rehabilitated by Strabag, Austria.

The contracts signed with Strabag AG cost USD43.3 mln. The repair works are planned to be completed by the end of 2014. The Premier of Moldova the US Ambassador had the equipment imported to repair the road tested, and the functionality of the concrete -producing and the old asphalt –processing plant checked. Head of the Turkish consortium Fevzi Ayrancioglu noted that the asphalt-prtoducing plant is equipped with modern German and Italian liens and capable of producing 280 t. of asphalt an hour.

Vladimir Filat appreciated high technologies used in the works. According to him, the winners of the tender are widely experienced and have possibilities and opportunities enough to make this segment of the road exemplary. He has expressed hope that the modern equipment and technologies will be left in Moldova and available for repair works on other roads after the project is completed. The US Ambassador said the project is aimed at building a road and modern infrastructure to live for decades.

William Moser reminded that another 50% or USD 262 mln. of funds provided by the Compact are meant for irrigation projects. According to the Ambassador, the US believes Moldova will be able to become a story of success in the field of agriculture and awaits the time when Moldovan agricultural products will be transported along new roads for export. As it was said earlier, the repair works are to be monitored by IRD Engineering , an Italian company, and Louis Berger SAS, France, which will be paid USD 3,29 mln. and USD 3,26 mln. respectively.

In the framework of the rehabilitation bus stops and pedestrian foot paths will be improved, the highway in 13 population places will be illuminated, and secondary roads will be constructed to provide easier access to schools, kindergartens, hospitals etc. from the reconstructed highway. Moldova and the USA signed the Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact program at the beginning of 2010 and it came into effect on September, 1, 2010.

In line with the program grants at a total sum of \\$262 mln. will be provided to Moldova to develop road facilities, renew irrigation systems and encourage transition to the advanced agriculture.