New checkpoint and bridge to be built on Ukraine’s border with Romania
11 December 09:56
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved an agreement with the Government of Romania on the construction of a bridge across the Tisza River. It will connect Ukraine and Romania near the settlements of Bila Tserkva and Sighetu Marmatiei. The decision was made during a government meeting on December 10, Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
According to the Cabinet of Ministers, the construction of the Bila Tserkva-Sighetu Marmatiei checkpoint is one of the priority projects at the level of the Governments of Ukraine and Romania, and this is what was approved by a separate Memorandum between our countries.
Currently, with the funding and support of partners, a feasibility study is being developed for the construction of a checkpoint, a protective dam, a service area, and an access road to the bridge between the two countries. At the same time, the Romanian side is already working on the construction of the bridge.
“It is planned that 400 trucks, 600 cars and 80 buses will be able to cross this checkpoint per day. Thus, this checkpoint will become the largest with Romania after its opening,” emphasized Oleksiy Kuleba, Vice Prime Minister for Reconstruction of Ukraine, Minister of Communities and Territories Development.
What checkpoints already exist on the border with Romania
Currently, there are four cargo checkpoints for large vehicles on the border of Ukraine and Romania: “Porubne – Siret, Orlivka – Isaccea, Dyakove – Halmeu, and Krasnoyilsk – Vicovu de Sus (for empty trucks). Every day, nearly 500 trucks cross these checkpoints to leave Ukraine. Thus, the Bila Tserkva – Sighetu Marmatiei checkpoint in Zakarpattia region will become one of the key logistics routes and will significantly increase the capacity of the Ukrainian-Romanian border and the state border in general.
Why else is the new checkpoint important?
The opening of a new checkpoint on the border with Romania will be one of the most important events for the region, as it will bring many benefits to both countries.
According to the Transcarpathian edition of PMG.ua, the checkpoint is very convenient in terms of logistics and geographical location. On the one hand, it is located near the H-09 highway, which connects Mukachevo, Tyachiv, Rakhiv, and Lviv. And on the other hand, it is located near the Romanian city of Sighetu, which can be used to reach other cities in the neighboring country. Accordingly, the geographical location will help develop tourism in the region.
In addition, the new checkpoint will create conditions for new jobs. After all, the Maramuresh Industrial Park, specializing in woodworking and furniture, will operate almost 1 km from the checkpoint and employ about 2,000 people.
The new checkpoint will facilitate the export of furniture and other wood products to Europe. After all, the industrial park will cooperate with companies that are, for example, partners of the well-known Swedish IKEA chain. This, in turn, will give a boost not only to the woodworking industry in Tyachiv and Rakhiv districts, but also to the region’s economy as a whole.
The Bila Tserkva-Sighetu Marmatiei checkpoint will also help both countries communicate and cooperate more closely, allowing the Romanian minority in Zakarpattia to visit Romania and the Ukrainian minority in the neighboring country to visit Ukraine. After all, there are also villages on the Romanian side of the Tisza River inhabited mainly by members of the Ukrainian community.
