Prime Minister at opening of Hîncești–Lăpușna–M1 road: 37.2 km of modern road awaited for more than decade

Hîncești region residents now benefit from a modern and safe road after more than 12 years of waiting. Prime Minister Vasile Tofan attended today’s ceremony marking the opening to traffic of the national R33 Hîncești–Lăpușna–M1 road, rehabilitated over a length of 37.2 kilometers through an investment of approximately €38.75 million, financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The rehabilitated road connects the city of Hîncești and the localities of Rusca, Lăpușna, Pervomaisc, and Onești to the M1 highway, one of the main transport routes linking the area to Chișinău and Romania via Leușeni border crossing.

“The road was delivered on time and within budget. We are building Moldova literally, kilometer by kilometer,” Tofan said, emphasizing that the people of the region had waited for years for the completion of this project.

For drivers traveling between Chișinău and Leușeni customs point, the R33 road provides an alternative approximately 20 kilometers shorter than the usual route on M1. Until now, due to the road’s deteriorated condition, many drivers had been forced to choose longer routes, while on some sections traffic moved at only a few kilometers per hour.

Thus, the rehabilitation of the road brings direct benefits both to residents and to the business community. For entrepreneurs, it means more efficient transportation, lower logistics costs, and better access to markets. Farmers will be able to transport their produce in better conditions, while residents of the region will benefit from safer travel and easier access to services.

The works included upgrading the roadway to a width of 7 meters, rehabilitating 3 bridges and 43 culverts, installing more than 1,000 road signs, building protective guardrails, and applying road markings. Street lighting was also modernized in Hîncești, Lăpușna and Onești.

The modernization of this route brings to an end a lengthy period during which the project was marked by delays. The first rehabilitation contract was signed in 2014, but the works were not completed, and the contract was terminated in 2021. Subsequently, the project was updated and a new contractor was selected. The works resumed in April 2024 and were completed in October 2026.