Starting Monday at 5 PM, drivers can completely bypass Bucharest by using a high-speed road: Lot 3 of the A0 Southern Ring Motorway has been opened to traffic. This segment completes the southern half of the A0 ring and connects 15.4 km from the Ciorogârla area (junction with A1) and 2.5 km from the Northern Ring, up to Bragadiru.

The contract for this section was signed in 2019 and initially stipulated 12 months for design and 30 months for execution. However, it took over five years to complete, under the coordination of the Ministry of Transport and the National Road Infrastructure Administration (CNAIR).

With the opening of Lot 3, it is now possible to travel across Romania on motorway from Constanța to Curtea de Argeș (via A2 – A0 – A1). And by the end of July, with the final stretch of Expressway 12 completed, Craiova will also be connected to the seaside through a 475 km high-speed road corridor.

Former Minister of Transport Sorin Grindeanu stated on Monday that the impact of the southern half of A0 being opened to traffic will be felt in Bucharest, as it links the A1 and A2 motorways. He also emphasized that motorway projects must not be halted and that he will continue to apply "positive pressure" to ensure ongoing funding.

“I believe that, starting today, traffic in Bucharest will feel the impact of this southern half-ring of the A0 being open and connecting A1 and A2. This will certainly be noticeable. By the end of the year, the remaining 4 kilometers at Cernica should be completed, including the Chinese-built section, so that the stretch from DN1 to DN2 will be finished and nearly the entire A0 will be operational,” said Sorin Grindeanu, following an on-site inspection of Lot 3 (Bragadiru – Joița), alongside the new Minister of Transport, Ciprian Șerban.

“I assure you I’ll continue to apply positive pressure — encouraging the current minister, the state secretary, and Mr. Pistol [CNAIR director] from my new position,” Grindeanu added.

He stressed that the most important form of support is ensuring funding for major infrastructure projects.

“These projects must not be left without funding. What was started two, three, or four years ago must move forward — motorways cannot be allowed to stop,” Grindeanu concluded.