More puzzles than before Agigea Bridge Soap Opera - “Who and how will suffer“ episode (photo gallery)

Traffic of more than 3.5 tones vehicles on Agigea Bridge will be closed starting today, October 1^st. The announcement was made Friday, at the Prefecture of Constanta, by the Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta. According to his statement, vehicles 3.5 tones heavier will cross the Danube - Black Sea Canal by ferry. The ferry will be brought ​​these days from Galati. Victor Ponta went also to visit the site of the new bridge over the canal, located at Gate 10 of Constanta Port and the Agigea Bridge. Here, the mayor of Constanta, Radu Stefan Mazare, said he was unhappy with the situation. "If heavy traffic was stopped about six months ago, the bridge wouldn’t fall now. If they would have done that, they had time to finish the other (the new bridge at Gate 10 of Constanta port). (...) They should have limited the heavy traffic until they finish the other. If they were smart", said Mazare, referring to specialists of Agigea Bridge. 
 
"The problem of the bridge is more important than estimated at the beginning. Since it was made ​​by Ceausescu (Nicolae Ceausescu) the bridge was not repaired. It is in an advanced state of decay and any moment could be dangerous. It is a vital bridge. Any detour means huge costs on some county roads that have not the same capacity. I hope I made ​​the right decision. I have to take responsibility alongside all the other participants in the discussion. Bridge on Gate 10, which is now under construction, must be completed by May 2014. The new bridge could compensate Agigea Bridge closure", said Victor Ponta after a meeting attended by the heads of local authorities. "Clearly, starting October 1^st, regardless the economic consequences, we have to restrict traffic on the Agigea Bridge. There will be allowed to pass small cars, school minibuses. All other vehicles - trucks, buses, including public transportation - will not pass. We keep the bridge open to vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tones.



There will be continuous monitoring, 24/7. If at some point we find that there is an imminent danger of accident, then we have no other option than to close it completely. Since June 2014, the current bridge could be close if the new one is ready. Next week, will bring from ferries from Galati, so the trucks won’t have to go around 100 kilometers. I talked to the County Council to suspend the tax for county roads. CJC costs will be compensated from the reserve fund of the Government. These are the solutions. Let's hope the structure lasts until the other bridge is ready. (...) After 30 years when nobody did anything, we must do the repairs now. Secondly, the safety of those using the bridge is number one priority. If there is an imminent risk, we will close the bridge completely", the Romanian Prime Minister added at Constanta.

Tough decision
 

"These decisions are tough, important decisions. I considered it is my duty to listen to everyone and decide together what to do. I am extremely conscious if things go well and nothing bad happens by June, it will be everybody’s credit, with good reason. If something bad happens, it will be because of me", concluded Prime Minister Victor Ponta.