Hâncești–Lăpușna road has opened after 12 years of delay, with an investment of 38.75 million euros
After more than 12 years of waiting, a 37.2-kilometre section of the R33 Hâncești–Lăpușna–M1 national road has been rehabilitated and opened to traffic. The project cost approximately €38.75 million and was financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
The modernized road facilitates access for localities in the Hâncești district to the M1 highway and offers drivers a shorter alternative route between Chișinău and the Leușeni border crossing point.
The repaired section provides a connection between the municipality of Hâncești—as well as the localities of Rusca, Lăpușna, Pervomaisc, and Onești—and the M1 highway, one of the main arterial roads linking the municipality of Chișinău to Romania via the Leușeni border crossing point.
For drivers traveling between Chișinău and the Leușeni border crossing, the R33 road offers an alternative route that is approximately 20 kilometers shorter than the standard path along the M1 highway.
Before the rehabilitation, the road surface was so badly damaged that many drivers preferred to bypass the area and take longer routes. In some sections, the condition of the road limited travel speeds to just a few kilometers per hour.
“The road was delivered on time and within budget. We are literally building Moldova, kilometre by kilometre”, stated Prime Minister Vasile Tofan during the event marking the road’s opening for use.
The modernization of the road will also have a positive impact on the local economy. For businesses, the new road infrastructure will enable more efficient transport, lower logistics costs, and improved access to markets.
Farmers will be able to transport their produce under better conditions, while local residents will benefit from safer travel and easier access to services.
As part of the project, the roadway was widened to seven meters. Additionally, the team rehabilitated three bridges and 43 culverts, installed over 1,000 road signs, and set up protective barriers.
The works also included the application of road markings, as well as the modernization of street lighting in the localities of Hâncești, Lăpușna, and Onești.
The road repair marks the completion of an infrastructure project launched more than a decade ago, yet one that was plagued by delays and difficulties during its execution.
The initial construction contract was signed in 2014; however, the work was not completed, and the contract was terminated in 2021.
Subsequently, the project was updated, and a new contractor was appointed.
Work resumed in April 2024 and was completed in October 2026.
Thus, the road was opened for use more than 12 years after the signing of the first contract.
