IHI Infrastructure Systems Co., Ltd. (Location: Sakai City, Osaka, President: Kazuya Ueda, hereinafter “IIS”), an IHI Group company, constructed one of Europe’s longest suspension bridges in a joint venture with the Italian construction company, Webuild (formerly Astaldi).
The opening ceremony held on July 6 was attended by Romanian President Klaus Werner Johannis, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciolacu as well as Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Yumi Yoshikawa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Hiroshi Ueda, IHI Managing Executive Officer Takeshi Kawakami, IIS President and CEO Kazuya Ueda, IHI Executive Officer Bernd Bahlke, and many other stakeholders.
This road and bridge development project has a total length of over 23km including the suspension bridge over the Danube River (1,974.30m, central span 1,120 m, four lanes), approach viaduct (about 110m at both ends) and connecting roads. It links the city of Brăila, a major city in eastern Romania with the city of Tulcea on the opposite bank.
The design-build contract was awarded by the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration in January 2018, and the suspension bridge, approach viaduct, and part of the connecting roads have been completed and opened.
This is the first order received by the IHI Group in Romania, awarded based on an evaluation of the company’s long-standing experience and knowledge in large-scale overseas bridge construction projects.
The bridge will be the longest suspension bridge in Romania and the third longest in the European Union.
Since joining the EU, Romania is focusing on the development of domestic road infrastructure. The project is positioned as a strategic project for infrastructure development in the country and utilizes the EU Regional Policy Budget (EU Structural Fund)1. Since the 1990s, Japan has provided economic cooperation to Romania through technical cooperation and cultural grant aid and has cooperated in port and road development and railway construction. This project is also expected to strengthen the economic relationship between the two countries through the utilization of Japan’s advanced technological capabilities
Historically, access from the city of Brăila to the other side of the Danube required detours of more than 100km or usage of boats, However, the completion of the suspension bridge will facilitate crossing of the Danube, greatly improving transportation convenience. In addition, the connecting road which is part of this project is scheduled to open in December this year and will lead to an existing highway, contributing to the efficiency of cargo distribution between the country’s largest port of Constanta and the eastern region of Romania, as well as contributing to economic revitalization within the EU.
Recent IIS achievements include the completion of a construction and renovation project of 3 bridges near the capital of Bangladesh in February 2020, in a Joint Venture with Obayashi Corporation, Shimizu Construction Co., Ltd., and JFE Engineering Co., Ltd. The IHI Group has extensive experience in the construction of many large bridges overseas, such as the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Bridge (Nhat Tan Bridge) in Vietnam and the Izmit Bay Crossing Bridge (Osman Gazi Bridge) in Turkey.
The IHI Group will continue to promote activities to construct bridges overseas and contribute to the development of the countries through the development of social infrastructure.
＜Construction summary＞
Project name: Suspended Bridge over the Danube in Braila Area
Construction location: Romania Brăila City, Tulcea City
Contractor: Webuild SpA － IHI Infrastructure System JV Co., Ltd
1 EU regional policy budget （EU structural fund）
The European Union（EU）provides investment support to EU member states through three types of structural funds. (1) Economic and social convergence, (2) Competitiveness and job creation, (3) For the purpose of inter-regional cooperation across borders in Europe.
Related news release
Jan 17, 2018 – IHI Group First Order Received for Large Suspension Bridge in Romania
