Moldova opens EBRD-funded road linking northern border to Otaci
Residents of Moldova's northern Dondușeni and Ocnița districts now benefit from modernized transport infrastructure following the completion of the Arionești–Otaci road segment.
The €9.2 million (approx. 180.3 million MDL) rehabilitation project was funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Major transit time reduction
Local authorities report that travel times on key routes have decreased by nearly an hour and a half.
"Travel times from Arionești to Soroca used to take up to two hours," said Alina Vezitiu, Mayor of Arionești. "Drivers can now cover that distance in just 30 to 40 minutes."
The newly opened nine-kilometer road facilitates movement across northern municipalities while securing faster access to regional hospitals, schools, and the Otaci border crossing into Ukraine.
Comprehensive technical overhaul
The modernization involved a complete overhaul of the asphalt pavement, installation of modern drainage systems, upgraded side accesses, and new road safety infrastructure.
Drivers using the new route expressed immediate satisfaction with the results.
"The road is fantastic! You can practically fly on it now," said one local driver. "Before this, vehicles were constantly breaking down due to the potholes. The quality is excellent."
A returning resident noted the broader impact: "I came back from Belgium, and the road quality is genuinely high-level. Seeing improvements like this gives me a real reason to move back home."
Economic integration with southern regions
Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development Vladimir Bolea emphasized that the route serves a critical macroeconomic purpose for the nation.
"Our strategic priority is connecting northern Moldova with the south," Bolea stated. "We are linking residents and commercial operators to the rest of the country via safe, modern infrastructure. Economically, this corridor is a top priority."
The Arionești–Otaci section forms part of a broader €44 million EBRD project to rehabilitate the full 40-kilometer Soroca–Arionești–Otaci transit corridor.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
