A2 motorway (Romania)

The A2 motorway (Romanian: Autostrada A2), also known as The Motorway of the Sun (Romanian: Autostrada Soarelui), is a motorway in Romania which links Bucharest with Constanța, a city-port on the shore of the Black Sea, where it merges after an interchange into the A4 motorway.[3] It is 206 km long,[1][2] and has been operational on its entire length since November 2012.

A2 motorway shield}}
A2 motorway
Map of the A2 motorway, as of November 2012
A2 romania.jpg
Route information
Maintained by Compania Națională de Administrare a Infrastructurii Rutiere
Length225 km[1][2] (140 mi)
Existed1987–present
Major junctions
West endBucharest
Major intersections A 0 near Cernica (planned)
East end A 4 at Constanța
Location
CountryRomania
CountiesIlfov, Călărași, Ialomița, Constanța
Major citiesFetești, Cernavodă, Medgidia
Highway system
← A 1→ A 3
CFR line 800 running parallel with the A2 motorway at Cernavodă
Oldest section of the motorway, Cernavodă bridges system (over Danube) inaugurated in 1987 (birds eye view)
A2 motorway runs parallel with CFR Line 800 for many kilometers
A2 motorway between Medgidia and Constanța
Interchange with A4, seen approaching from Medgidia

History

The construction of the motorway between Bucharest and Constanța began in the communist era during Nicolae Ceaușescu's regime. The first section, from Fetești to Cernavodă (about 18 km), was opened on 21 November 1987, simultaneous to the new railway bridge and underwent a major rehabilitation in 2003. It crosses the Balta Ialomiței island and includes the Cernavodă Bridge complex system of motorway and railway bridges and viaducts over the Danube and one of its branches at Cernavodă. The motorway bridge passes under the historical railway bridge built by Anghel Saligny in 1895, while the new railway in use today separates the motorway roadways.

After the fall of the communism in 1989, construction continued for a short period, but it was finally stopped in 1993 due to lack of financial resources. When it was completed, it differed from the original plans from the 70s. The original plan of the A2 motorway envisaged a route running northwards through Urziceni and Slobozia, while the current route of the motorway runs eastwards in a straight line towards Fetești. Construction continued after 1998, the motorway being completed in late 2012.

The sector from Bucharest to Fetești crosses the Bărăgan Plain and was built between 2001 and 2007. It was split into four sections. The first section from Bucharest to Fundulea (26.5 km) was built by the Romanian company Romis and is surfaced with concrete slabs. The second section from Fundulea to Lehliu (29.2 km) was built by a Turkish joint venture between Yuksel, Makimsar and Ener, while the third section from Lehliu to Drajna (41.6 km) was built by the French company Colas. The three sections were completed in 2004.[4] The fourth, from Drajna to Fetești (36.8 km), was built by a joint venture between Astaldi, Max Bögl and CCCF, and was completed in 2007, receiving financial support from the ISPA funds.[5]

The sector from Cernavodă to Constanța (51.3 km) runs across the Dobruja Plateau and was built between 2009 and 2012, receiving financial resources from the European Union's Cohesion Fund and from the European Investment Bank. It was built by a joint venture between Astaldi and Max Bögl, and was completed in late 2012.[6] The section from Cernavodă to Medgidia was initially awarded to the French company Colas, but the contract was terminated in April 2011, because of delays in the construction process.[7] It was subsequently awarded to the new constructor in September 2011.[8]

The total distance between Bucharest and Constanța on the motorway is approximately 206 km.[1][2] It includes a 3.8 km link segment at the eastern end,[9][10] that was part of the construction contract for the A4 motorway,[11] which serves as the Constanța bypass. It has seven exits and ten rest areas on each carriageway, six being served by filling stations. There is one toll gate along the route, at Fetești (km 144), where a tax is charged for crossing the Danube bridges.[12][13]

During summer, heavy traffic (maximum permissible weight over 7.5 t) is forbidden to drive on the motorway on weekends (including Friday) at daylight hours (from 6 A.M. to 12 A.M.).[14]


Openings timeline
  • In 21 November 1987, the 17.2 km segment Fetești – Cernavodă was opened for traffic. The segment was closed for traffic again in September 2006 for complete rebuilding and reopened in 2007.
  • On 4 June 2004, two segments opened for traffic: Bucharest – Fundulea (26.5 km) and Fundulea – Lehliu (29.2 km).
  • In November 2004, the 42 km segment Lehliu – Drajna was opened for traffic.
  • In June 2006, the 17.2 km segment Fetești – Cernavodă was re-opened for traffic, after major rehabilitation works.
  • Between 1 July and 15 September 2006, the 36.8 km segment Drajna – Fetești temporarily opened for traffic in both ways but only on one carriageway.
  • On 1 May 2007, the 36.8 km segment Drajna – Fetești was re-opened for traffic.
  • On 29 July 2011, the Murfatlar – Constanța segment (21 km, including a part of A4) was inaugurated (initially, on two of the total four lanes).[15]
  • On 30 September 2011, the Murfatlar – Constanța segment was completed and opened on both carriageways.[16]
  • On 19 July 2012, the Cernavodă – Medgidia segment (20.5 km) was opened for traffic on a single carriageway, and the Medgidia – Murfatlar segment (16.3 km) was opened on both carriageways.[17]
  • On 29 November 2012, the Cernavodă – Medgidia segment (20.5 km) was opened for traffic on both carriageways.[18]

Exit list
CountyLocationkmmiDestinationsNotes
City of Bucharest116.8Theodor Pallady BoulevardWestern terminus. Introductory path of the A2. Distance is measured from the Kilometer Zero monument in Bucharest.
127.5 DNCB (Centura București, Bucharest Ring Road)
IlfovCernica148.7 A 0 – Bucharest EastThe A0 motorway is planned to go towards Buzău, Ploiești, Otopeni Airport, Pitești and Oltenița, Giurgiu, Craiova.
1811 DJ301 / DC55 – Cernica, BălănceancaOpened in 2015.
Brănești2214 DJ100 – Brănești, FundeniOpened in 2021.
CălărașiFundulea3522 DN3 – Fundulea
​4830Rest area: OMV
Lehliu Gară6440 DN3 – Lehliu Gară
6641Rest area: Petrom
​7446Parking
​8855Rest area: Rompetrol
​9861Parking
Drajna10565 DN3A / DN21 – Slobozia, Călărași
​11169Rest area: OMV
​12075Parking
​13181Parking
Ialomița​13986Rest area: Rompetrol
Fetești14288 DN3B – FeteștiRebuilt in 2007.
14489 Toll booth
14590Fetești BridgeThe Fetești Bridge crosses over the Borcea branch of the Danube.
14691U-turn exit
ConstanțaCernavodă15798U-turn exitEastbound only.
15898Cernavodă BridgeThe Cernavodă Bridge crosses over the Danube.
16099 DN22C – Cernavodă, MurfatlarReconfigured as exit in 2012.
Medgidia192119 DJ381 – Medgidia, Murfatlar, Ostrov
196122Rest area: MOLMOL filling station opened in 2022.[19]
Constanța205127Parking
212132 A 4 – ConstanțaEastern terminus. Road continues as A4 to Tulcea, Constanța and Port of Constanța, Mangalia, Vama Veche (border with Bulgaria).
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •        Tolled
  •       Unopened

See also

References
  1. "Licitatie deschisa servicii pentru asigurarea pazei patrimoniului Autostrazii A2 Bucuresti – Cernavoda" (PDF). CNADNR. 13 September 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Bucuresti – Cernavoda: km 9+500 – km 160+980
  2. "Asigurare paza patrimoniu prin patrulare si posturi fixe pe autostrada A2 Cernavoda – Constanta" (PDF). CNADNR. 28 December 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-23. Cernavoda – Constanta: km 160+980 – km 215+950
  3. "Descriere proiect". Proiectarea şi Construcţia Autostrăzii Cernavodă – Medgidia. Archived from the original on 12 August 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  4. "Constructie autostrazi – Coridorul IV Nădlac – Constanţa – Autostrada București – Constanţa". CNADNR. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  5. "Construcţia şi reabilitarea secţiunilor 4 şi 5 din autostrada București-Constanţa". CNADNR. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  6. "Constructia autostrazii Cernavoda – Constanta". CNADNR. Archived from the original on 22 August 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  7. Claudia Pîrvoiu (11 April 2011). "CNADNR a lăsat tronsonul de autostradă Cernavodă-Medgidia fără constructor". Hotnews.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 12 April 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  8. Claudia Pîrvoiu (21 September 2011). "CNADNR a semnat cu Astaldi contractul pentru realizarea tronsonului Cernavodă- Medgidia". Hotnews.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  9. "Notă de fundamentare" (PDF). CNADNR. 10 July 2012.
  10. "Notă de fundamentare" (PDF). CNADNR. 29 May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 31, 2021.
  11. "Incadrare in zona a obiectivului". Constructia variantei de ocolire a Municipiului Constanta. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010. Retrieved 23 July 2013.
  12. "Benzinarii Autostrada A2 (Soarelui)". Gazonline.ro. Retrieved 15 July 2012.
  13. "Autostradă A2 – Autostradă Soarelui". Motorways-exits.com. 10 October 2011.
  14. "Driving restrictions Romania 2012". UNTRR.ro. 11 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-04-29.
  15. "Traseul tronsonului din Autostrada Soarelui care ocolește Constanța spre Mangalia". Hotnews.ro (in Romanian). 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  16. Victor Cozmei (30 September 2011). "Vineri s-a inaugurat pentru a doua oară același tronson din Autostrada Soarelui și s-au dat în folosință încă 4 km din Centura Municipiului Constanța (A4)". Hotnews.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  17. Victor Cozmei (18 July 2012). "Autostrada Soarelui (A2), deschisă în întregime de la București și până la Constanța". Hotnews.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  18. Victor Cozmei (28 November 2012). "Autostrada A2 București-Constanța, finalizată după 25 de ani. Joi s-a deschis traficul pe ambele căi de pe tronsonul Cernavodă – Medgidia". Hotnews.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  19. Team, EVmarket (2022-07-26). "MOL România deschide două noi stații de servicii pe Autostrada Soarelui (A2)". EVmarket.ro (in Romanian). Retrieved 2022-09-01.
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