Prahova opens tender for first 41 km of TransBai

Prahova County Council has opened the tender for the first 41.16 kilometres of the long-discussed TransBai road, a route that could eventually offer drivers a genuine alternative to the busy DN1. The announcement was published recently in Romania's electronic public procurement system.

The contract covers modernisation, rehabilitation and extension works for the section from Gura Vitioarei to Valea Doftanei in Prahova County. According to the tender documentation, the estimated value is roughly 288.7 million lei excluding VAT, and the contractor will have 30 months to finish the work once the start order is issued.

The route begins near the DN1A and passes through five communes: Gura Vitioarei, Vărbilău, Aluniș, Bertea and Valea Doftanei. Rather than simply resurfacing the road, the project involves building new road structures on certain sections, arranging shoulders and upgrading existing infrastructure.

Offers must be submitted by 15 December 2026.

In its final form, TransBai is designed to link Gura Vitioarei with Valea Doftanei and then continue towards Azuga and Bușteni through the Baiului Mountains. Local authorities have promoted the route for several years as a way to ease pressure on DN1, especially during weekends and the winter sports season. For drivers and residents, this first tender is a concrete step towards a road that could shorten journeys and improve access to mountain resorts, although the full TransBai corridor will still require further stages.