Drivers can now use the 37.2 kilometers of the rehabilitated national road R33 Hîncești–Lăpușna–M1, which opened on November 5, 2026, according to the Government of the Republic of Moldova. The route connects the town of Hîncești and the localities of Rusca, Lăpușna, Pervomaisc and Onești to the M1 highway, which links to Chișinău and Romania via the Leușeni border crossing.
What does this mean for you?
The R33 road provides a route between Chișinău and the Leușeni border crossing that is about 20 kilometers shorter than the usual route on the M1, according to the Government. The institution says the road’s previous condition led many drivers to choose longer routes, while traffic on some sections moved at only a few kilometers per hour.
For residents and businesses, the Government describes the rehabilitation as improving access to services and markets. The institution says the route makes it possible to transport agricultural produce in better conditions and reduce logistics costs, but has not provided figures for these savings.
What work was carried out?
The road rehabilitation involved an investment of approximately 38.75 million euros, funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The roadway was upgraded to a width of 7 meters.
The work included rehabilitating 3 bridges and 43 culverts, as well as installing more than 1,000 road signs. Safety barriers were installed, road markings were applied, and street lighting was upgraded in Hîncești, Lăpușna and Onești.
Why did the project take from 2014 to 2026?
The first contract to rehabilitate the route was signed in 2014, but the work was not completed under that contract. The contract was terminated in 2021, according to the Government.
The project was subsequently updated and a different contractor was selected. Work resumed in April 2024 and was completed in October 2026, before the road opened to traffic on November 5, 2026.
Sources
- Guvernul Republicii Moldova — Prim-ministrul Vasile Tofan, la deschiderea circulației pe drumul Hîncești – Lăpușna – M1: 37,2 km de drum modern, așteptat de peste un deceniu
Written with AI assistance from the official sources above and checked by the editors.
What we checked (8 claims and their sources)
Every figure, date and name in the article, with the official source it comes from (in Romanian). The check against sources is automatic, before editor approval.
- Circulația pe drumul național R33 Hîncești–Lăpușna–M1, reabilitat pe 37,2 kilometri, a fost deschisă pe 5 noiembrie 2026. — Guvernul Republicii Moldova
- Drumul R33 conectează Hîncești, Rusca, Lăpușna, Pervomaisc și Onești cu magistrala M1, care asigură legătura cu Chișinău și România prin Leușeni. — Guvernul Republicii Moldova
- Alternativa pe R33 între Chișinău și vama Leușeni este cu aproximativ 20 de kilometri mai scurtă decât traseul obișnuit pe M1. — Guvernul Republicii Moldova
- Investiția a fost de aproximativ 38,75 milioane de euro, finanțată de Banca Europeană pentru Reconstrucție și Dezvoltare. — Guvernul Republicii Moldova
- Carosabilul a fost modernizat pe o lățime de 7 metri. — Guvernul Republicii Moldova
- Lucrările au inclus reabilitarea a 3 poduri și a 43 de podețe și instalarea a peste 1.000 de indicatoare rutiere. — Guvernul Republicii Moldova
- Primul contract de reabilitare a fost semnat în 2014 și reziliat în 2021. — Guvernul Republicii Moldova
- Lucrările au fost reluate în aprilie 2024 și finalizate în octombrie 2026. — Guvernul Republicii Moldova
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