Yesterday 16:00

Ștefan Ovidiu Popa accuses Radu Miruță of blocking the opening of the A1 to traffic in Curtea de Argeș

Raluca Ioana Draghici

11 November 2026, 16:00

Current Affairs

Stefan Ovidiu Popa / foto: facebook.com / Stefan Ovidiu Popa

Always see our news on Google

Transport Minister Ștefan Ovidiu Popa accuses former minister Radu Miruță of USR of intentionally blocking the hiring of the teams needed to intervene in the Curtea de Argeș Tunnel, also known as the Momaia Tunnel. According to the minister, this decision is preventing the opening to traffic of approximately 10 kilometers of the Tigveni–Curtea de Argeș Section, part of the A1 Motorway.

Popa claims that the section is technically complete but cannot be opened to traffic because the personnel needed for interventions and tunnel operations are not in place. The minister says Radu Miruță deliberately blocked the hiring procedures, even though the infrastructure is ready to open.

At the same time, Ștefan Ovidiu Popa accuses the former minister of providing false information when he claimed to have approved the hiring of the teams. The dispute concerns responsibility for delaying the inauguration of an important section of the A1, which is expected to improve the road connection between Pitești and Curtea de Argeș.

The Transport Minister did not provide, in the information presented, a timetable for opening the road to traffic. Radu Miruță’s statements represent the position disputed by Popa in this case.

Context: delays on the A1 due to a lack of staff for the Momaia tunnel and discussions at CNAIR

Previously, Ștefan-Ovidiu Popa announced that the opening of the Tigveni–Curtea de Argeș section to traffic had been postponed because the Momaia tunnel could not be put into operation without specialized teams for monitoring, maintenance, and emergency interventions. The minister said at the time that discussions had begun with CNAIR Director General Cristian Pistol to organize competitions and hire staff in stages, while the duration of the delay could not be estimated.

Work on the 9.86 kilometers of the section is reported to be 99% complete, and the contractual deadline is February 2027. The tunnel is 1,350 meters long and has more than 2,500 monitoring points (cameras and sensors), while the maximum speed inside is 80 km/h; safety tests and system adjustments were to be completed before it was opened to traffic.