Romania highway construction sees progress amid PNRR liquidity gaps

Construction progress on major Romanian highway projects accelerated during the summer, led by the RETTER – Pizzarotti association. This partnership reported an advance of over 18 percentage points on Lot 1 North of the A0 Bucharest Motorway, bringing the physical progress of the entire lot to over 72%. The Sibiu-based company RETTER has been noted for utilizing technical innovations and intensive execution schedules, including night shifts.

Other notable progress includes the Precon – Citadina association, which reported an 11 percentage point advance on the A3 Transylvania highway (Chiribiș – Biharia section), reaching approximately 71% completion. 2026 is projected to be a record year for road infrastructure as several major projects on the A0, A1, A3, and A7 approach completion.

However, the construction sector faces significant financial challenges regarding the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The Federation of Employers of Construction Companies (FPSC) reports a gap of approximately 3 billion euros between the value of technically certified and executed works and the actual amounts collected by contractors. This discrepancy is exerting immense pressure on the liquidity of companies within the sector. The FPSC highlighted issues such as insufficient project preparation, lengthy procedures, and poor investment management as factors that have caused Romania to fall below its initial PNRR objectives.