The existing bridges over the Nistru in the north of Moldova do not provide sufficient capacity to cross the border, and the lack of other similar projects in the short or medium term further emphasizes the need to build the road bridge at Cosauti-Iampol. In a reply to IPN, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development says that this project remains essential for connectivity between Moldova and Ukraine. The comment was made as the Ukrainian side has temporarily suspended the works due to lack of funds.
According to the agreement between the two countries, Ukraine is to build the bridge itself, together with the access road and the border crossing point on its territory. The Republic of Moldova is responsible for the construction of the connecting road and the customs point on the Moldovan side. The works on the Moldovan side would be financed from 2026, as foreseen in the existing agreement.
In the same response to IPN, MIDR emphasizes that the current cross-border bridges in the north of the Republic of Moldova do not allow for adequate development of border crossing capacities. This limitation emphasizes the importance of building the Cosauti-Iampol bridge as soon as possible.
The project was first discussed at high level in January 2021, when Presidents Maia Sandu and Volodimir Zelenskyy agreed to build a new road link between the two countries. Work began in early 2022, but was halted due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In June 2023, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine reaffirmed the strategic importance of this bridge by signing a new cooperation agreement.
The Cosauti-Iampol bridge is designed to be about 1.5 kilometers long, 24 meters high, at an estimated cost of $200 million. Works are expected to take two years. The Chisinau authorities have planned to invest almost one billion lei to connect the national road Chisinau-Soroca with the future road infrastructure at Cosauti.
Although the original deadline for completion was 2027, the uncertainties caused by Ukraine’s financial and military situation could lead to its postponement. The Moldovan authorities consider that the project remains strategic for economic development and regional mobility.