►►The new Danube 2 bridge ◀◀

A new bridge over the river Danube was opened last week (14 June 2013), linking Bulgaria and Romania by road and rail.

The mile-long bridge, which includes a four-lane road, an electrified rail line as well as a cycle path and two walkways, took six years to build and links Vidin in Bulgaria to Calafat in Romania.

The £235 million bill was partly footed by the European Union and the scheme included a new rail freight terminal and refurbishment of an existing passenger station.

The long-awaited link will allow rail freight and passengers from Greece, Macedonia and Turkey to reach Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary without passing through non-EU countries.

It is hoped that the bridge will help to stimulate economic revival in a deprived part of the Balkans.

Bulgarian prime minister Plamen Oresharski said: "This bridge strengthens Europe."
He and Romania's prime minister Victor Ponta attended the opening, along with Johannes Han, the EU commissioner for regional policy.

The bridge was built by Spanish company FCC Construction and replaces a Vidin-Calafat ferry which took up to three hours, compared to the 15-minute journey over the bridge.

"The Vidin-Calafat bridge is a shining example of European construction," said Fernando Moreno of FCC Construction. "It will improve the living standards of citizens in both countries and contribute to the development of an economically deprived area.

"FCC has overcome natural challenges such as the Danube's massive flow through the two cities."    
The bridge is part of European corridor 4 which runs from Dresden to Istanbul.

Information and picture from FCC Construction