Reconstruction of the R-34 Road in Moldova: Detours for Two Bridges Completed, Work Underway on the Third!

We are gradually expanding the scope and types of works being carried out on the 42-kilometre section of the road between the cities of Cahul and Cantemir.

The detours for two bridges have already been completed. On the third bridge, embankment works and construction of the pavement structure layers are underway, including soil, two crushed stone layers and an asphalt concrete layer.

The R-34 reconstruction project provides for the reconstruction of 6 bridges:

• 4 new bridges are being built in place of existing structures;

• 1 bridge is being constructed next to the existing bridge, as the project provides for straightening the road, which currently has a 90-degree bend;

• 1 existing bridge is being reconstructed, including strengthening and widening of the carriageway.

Works have started on removing the road pavement at the locations where culverts will be installed. Around 50 culverts are planned in total, with a combined length of more than 1.1 kilometres.

On the sections of the first construction stage, pavement structure works continue according to two types of design.

The first type involves complete replacement of the pavement structure:

• milling;

• removal of the existing road base;

• cement stabilisation of the soil (M-20);

• construction of two drainage layers of crushed stone (0–63 mm);

• construction of a cement-treated crushed stone–sand mixture (35%) with the addition of milled material (65%) using cold recycling technology;

• construction of two asphalt concrete layers (6 cm and 4 cm).

The second type is used on sections where the road is being widened. While the standard road width is 8 metres, in many locations the existing carriageway is only 7 metres or less. The widened section of the road comprises 6 pavement structure layers:

• cement-stabilised soil;

• two 20-cm layers of crushed stone (0–63 mm);

• cement-treated crushed stone–sand mixture with milled material;

• two asphalt concrete layers (6 cm and 4 cm).

On the existing part of the road, the base remains in place. Only a 20-cm crushed stone layer (0–63 mm), a cement-treated mixture with milled material, and two asphalt concrete layers (6 cm and 4 cm) are constructed.

Currently, 70 units of equipment and 230 workers are involved in the works on the R-34.