Transport Ministry, unable to mend three rail bridges in five years

Sibiu-Brasov, Bucharest-Giurgiu, Marasesti-Focsani, Buda-Slanic and Timisoara-Bucharest direct lines are closed to traffic, broken up or detoured to other longer routes, after the past five years have seen three major bridges break in Cartisoara (Sibiu county) in 2009, Gradistea (Giurgiu county) in 2005 and Putna Seaca (Vrancea county) in 2005, writes Business Construct magazine in its tomorrow edition. The route to have been most recently closed, i.e. this February, Turnu-Severin-Filiasi, in the wake of some land sliding in Balota (Mehedinti county), is the only one due to be repaired in 2010. While the bridges would need investments of just 40m euros, CFR SA has not included in its 2010 budget, either, the rehabilitation of bridges of Gradistea, whose costs are put at over 20m euros, Putna Seaca (13.3m euros) or Cartisoara, 4-5m euros. Almost 40% of the railway network and over 60% of the total number of bridges and footbridges are long overdue for mending, which increases the risk of accidents.