Traffic to Ukraine slows down, Isaccea mayor still wants parking lot for heavy traffic

The number of trucks transiting the city of Isaccea in Tulcea County to reach Ukraine has decreased recently, but even though, local authorities want to carry out the project regarding the arrangement of a parking lot for heavy traffic.

The mayor of Isaccea, Stefan Neculai, told AGERPRES on Friday, that the values of heavy traffic recorded since the beginning of the war triggered by Russia in Ukraine have decreased recently, but trucks continue to be a problem while transiting the city.

"The project regarding the arrangement of a parking lot is feasible. We have a feasibility study and a framework project and we are trying to identify non-reimbursable sources of financing. At the same time, we are having discussions with private parties. We are trying to facilitate the development of such an investment by a private party or in a public-private partnership. We are not giving up on this idea, because the slowing down of the traffic is only temporary," mentioned Stefan Neculai.

According to the mayor, building a bridge over the Danube between the towns of Orlivka, Odessa region, and the city of Isaccea would not change life in the town at all.

"It's a very good idea to build a bridge. Because now it's very expensive and difficult to cross the Danube by ferry," said a Ukrainian truck driver, Valentin B., from the Kirovograd region, Ukraine.

According to data provided to AGERPRES by the Coast Guard, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, about 1.2 million people have entered Romania through the Isaccea border crossing point with approximately 270,000 vehicles, and about 1.17 million people have left the European Union with approximately 280,000 vehicles.

"In the last 24 hours, approximately 2,300 people with approximately 290 vehicles entered Romania through the Isaccea border crossing point and approximately 1,700 people with approximately 240 vehicles left Romania," said Coast Guard spokesman Andrei Ene on Friday.

Isaccea customs is preferred by people from Ukraine to reach Romania, due to shorter waiting times and the reduced costs involved in crossing by ferry, compared to Giurgiulesti customs, Galati County, where they can also go by crossing the territory of the Republic of Moldova first.

The local authority in Isaccea announced, almost two years ago, the construction of a parking lot for Ukrainian truck drivers transiting the area, but the investment has not started yet.

This year, Ukrainian authorities announced their intention to build a bridge over the Danube between Orlivka and Isaccea.