Moldova - 2.3 Road Network
Overview
There are three defined types of public roads in the Republic of Moldova:
- National road
- Local road
- Street
Moldova has a total length of 10,680 kilometres of road. 3,668km are national roads and 7,013 km are local road. The general maximum speed limit is 90km/h and of 50km/h inside localities.
Moldova requires the use of vignettes (roviniete) on all public roads, inside and outside localities for all non-Moldovan vehicles. Vignettes can be found at border crossing points from 4 euros for a week up to 180 euros for a year. A fine starting at (231 euros) is given to drivers caught without a valid vignette.
National roads are divided into two categories: magistral roads and republican roads. Magistral roads primarily serve as connections to road networks of Romania and Ukraine. Republican roads serve as connections between places in Moldova but can also reach the border. All magistral roads start or pass through Chisinau except for the M4.
The M1 crosses Moldova on the West-East reaching the Ukrainian border at Dubau and the Romanian one at Leuseni.
The M2 is one of the magistral roads that link Chisinau to the border with Ukraine. The road is 185km long and goes through Orhei and Soroca before reaching the border at Cosauti. As there is currently no bridge on the Dniester River, a ferry needs to be taken. A, 1400M dual carriageway bridge is scheduled for 2025.
The M3 connects Chisinau to the Moldova-Romania border towards the Lower Danube Metropolitan area that includes the cities of Galati and Braila in Romania via the autonomous territory of Gagauzia. The main cities located on this road are Cimislia, Comrat and Vulcanesti and Giurgiulesti. It is 217 KM long.
In the future Chisinau-Cimislia is to become a motorway class road which would be the first one in Moldova.
The M4 does not go through Chisinau and is fully controlled by the Transnistrian government. The M4 highway is the backbone of the Transnistrian road network. It links all the main cities located in the territory: Tiraspol, Dubasari and Ribnita.
The M5 is the longest Moldovan road (370km) crossing Moldova from the North to the South. It goes through the three most populous Moldovan cities (Chisinau, Balti and Tiraspol, and Edinet)
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is lending €150 million to Moldova to finance the rehabilitation of key roads in Moldova and around its capital, Chisinau[JM1] .
The loan will allow the government to upgrade and widen the M2 Chisinau ring road, upgrade the M1 Chisinau to Leuseni section, and purchase specialised equipment and software for a Road Asset Management System. The two roads are part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), which makes Moldova the gateway between the European Union (EU) to its west and countries to its east.
The EBRD’s investment will support the Moldovan government’s efforts to ensure key road links are maintained to standards that will enable economic growth, regional integration and trade. Improving the two-transport links will allow for a better transit connection between Moldova and its neighbours Ukraine and Romania, in line with the EU Solidarity Lanes initiative.
The investment is part of a large-scale road rehabilitation programme financed by the EBRD, under which more than €340 million has been provided to Moldova so far.
As part of the project, the EBRD is also helping the government develop a national e-mobility strategy that promotes the deployment of electric fleets and vehicle charging infrastructure in the country.
It is to be noted that despite substantial investments from the European Union: limited and unpredictable financing, lack of long-term planning and poor winter maintenance remain a challenge in Moldova.
For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List
Distance Matrix
Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km)
|
Chisinau |
Balti |
Tiraspol |
Edinet |
Dubau |
Leuseni |
Giurgiulesti |
Cosauti |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chisinau |
136 |
78,2 |
210 |
66,8 |
75,2 |
214 |
163 |
|
|
Balti |
136 |
198 |
73 |
156 |
153 |
340 |
77 |
|
|
Tiraspol |
78,2 |
198 |
271 |
88 |
176 |
247 |
233 |
|
|
Edinet |
210 |
73 |
271 |
251 |
227 |
422 |
109 |
|
|
Dubau |
66,8 |
156 |
88 |
251 |
152 |
284 |
170 |
|
|
Leuseni |
75,2 |
153 |
176 |
227 |
152 |
200 |
220 |
|
|
Giurgiulesti |
214 |
340 |
247 |
422 |
284 |
200 |
387 |
|
|
Causoti |
163 |
77 |
233 |
109 |
170 |
220 |
387 |
Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns
|
Chisinau |
Balti |
Tiraspol |
Edinet |
Dubau |
Leuseni |
Giurgiulesti |
Causati |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Chisinau |
1H51 |
1H11 |
2H47 |
1H07 |
1H17 |
3H24 |
2H27 |
|
|
Balti |
1H51 |
1H51 |
2H33 |
1H09 |
2H17 |
2H11 |
4H57 |
1H24 |
|
Tiraspol |
1H11 |
2H33 |
3H29 |
1H16 |
2H21 |
4H00 |
3H12 |
|
|
Edinet |
2H47 |
1H09 |
3H29 |
3H17 |
3H14 |
6H08 |
1H35 |
|
|
Dubau |
1H07 |
2H17 |
1H16 |
3H17 |
2H12 |
4h33 |
2H34 |
|
|
Leuseni |
1H17 |
2H11 |
2H21 |
3H14 |
2H12 |
3H25 |
3h17 |
|
|
Giurgiulesti |
3H24 |
4H57 |
4h00 |
6H08 |
4h33 |
3H25 |
5h50 |
|
|
Causati |
2H27 |
1H24 |
3H12 |
1H35 |
2H34 |
3H17 |
5h50 |
Road Security[JM2]
In 2015 the second Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 was proclaimed with a target to reduce road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030 in Moldova. Despite road safety strategy fatalities remain quite high in the country.
Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits
|
Axle Load Limits |
LCA Count (Moldova) |
Transit Country #1 (Romania) |
Transit Country #2 (Ukraine) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Truck with 2 Axles |
18 |
18 |
16 |
|
Truck with 3 Axles |
25 |
25/26 |
22 |
|
Truck with 4 Axles |
36 |
38 |
38 |
[JM1]EBRD lends €150 million for road upgrades in Moldova
Republic of Moldova Road Safety Performance Review | United Nations in Moldova [JM2]