Bulgarian authorities have announced the temporary closure of the Giurgiu-Ruse Friendship Bridge, which connects Bulgaria and Romania, for essential maintenance work. This closure will occur from March 27, 2025 (Thursday) through March 28, 2025 (Friday), impacting traffic in both directions.
Specifically, on March 27, traffic will be completely shut down for all vehicle categories from 09:00 to 21:00. Following this, from 21:00 on March 27 until 09:00 on March 28, only vehicles with a maximum authorized total mass of less than 3.5 tons will be allowed to cross. After 09:00 on March 28, the bridge will reopen to all vehicle categories.
This maintenance is crucial as it involves the monolithization of the connection between concrete panels along the eastern section of the bridge, which spans 413 meters on the Bulgarian side. Highway engineers maintain that such maintenance is vital to ensure the structural integrity and long-term safety of the bridge.
For those intending to travel across the border during this period, authorities have provided several alternative routes to mitigate the impact of the closure. Some suggested routes include: the road from Călărași to Silistra, which is open for regular vehicles, and ferry options, such as Ostrov (Constanța) to Silistra for buses and common cars, ensuring that there are multiple accessible paths via other crossing points.
Other alternatives noted include traveling via Negru Vodă (Constanța) to Kardam, or from Vama Veche (Constanța) to Durankulak, as well as through Calafat (Dolj) to Vidin, and ferry crossings from Zimnicea to Svishtov. The authorities have ensured numerous options for both freight and personal vehicles to ease travel during this crucial maintenance period.
Local travelers are also reminded that border points such as Lipnița (Constanța) to Kainardja remain operational until 20:00 for vehicles under 3.5 tons, providing yet another route to bypass the affected area.
Ultimately, the scheduled maintenance of the Giurgiu-Ruse Friendship Bridge is not just an inconvenience, but an important step towards ensuring the safety and durability of one of the region's vital transportation links. As the issue of infrastructure remains a significant priority for both Romanian and Bulgarian authorities, timely maintenance projects like this reflect a commitment to preserving critical connections in the face of increasing traffic demands.
Commuters and transport operators are encouraged to stay informed of the closure and alternative routes, ensuring they plan their travel accordingly to avoid delays. Maintenance works such as the one announced are crucial to maintaining safety standards and keeping traffic flowing smoothly across the borders.
