From 9 November 2026, a temporary traffic restriction will be in place on the DN1, between km 10+200 and km 10+500, near Aleea Privighetorilor. It is required for the works on the section between Washington and Paris stations, which is part of the NORTH Section of the M6 Metro Line.
How will traffic be affected?
For 14 days, the kerbside lane (lane 1) in the Otopeni – Bucharest direction will be closed, and traffic will use the other two lanes. Traffic in the Bucharest – Otopeni direction will not be affected.
What work will be carried out?
The carriageway in the Otopeni – Bucharest direction will be widened by removing the kerbs at the edge of the road and then milling and resurfacing the area. The resurfaced area will later be used for a temporary traffic diversion, which is needed to set up the construction site. The next stages of the traffic management arrangements will be announced separately, before they begin.
The works are being carried out under permits issued by CNAIR and the IGPR – Road Directorate.
Advice for road users
Drivers are asked to take extra care, follow the temporary traffic signs and plan their journeys through the area in advance.
Thank you for your patience and understanding while the works are carried out.
From the night of 4 to 5 November 2026, new temporary traffic management measures will be introduced on Calea Bucureștilor (DN1), in the town of Otopeni, near the future Bruxelles metro station.
The works are needed so that construction of Bruxelles Station, part of the NORTH Section of M6 Metro Line (Tokyo – Aeroport Otopeni), can continue.
How will traffic be affected?
To carry out the works, the metal safety barrier in the road central section will be removed along the section between km 12+760 and km 12+970. A new central barrier will then be installed, the road axis will be relocated and temporary road markings will be applied.
The works in the road central section will be carried out at night only, between 11pm and 5am. During this period, the central lane will be closed in both directions and traffic will run on two lanes in each direction.
Once the road axis has been relocated, traffic will use the existing carriageway and the temporarily prepared area at the edge of the road, with two lanes in the Otopeni – Bucharest direction and three lanes in the Bucharest – Otopeni direction.
What work will be carried out?
The sewerage and rainwater drainage pipes, as well as the telecommunications networks, will be relocated. The road access to the DN1 will also be moved and the boundary of the construction site will be altered, so that work on the structure of Bruxelles Station can continue.
Temporary pedestrian routes will be provided while the utility networks along the pavements are being relocated. The works are being carried out under the permits issued by CNAIR and the IGPR – Road Directorate.
Advice for traffic participants
Motorists are asked to proceed with caution, to observe the temporary road signs and markings, and to plan their journeys in the area in advance.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank all traffic participants for their understanding and cooperation.
The first TBM on the NORTH Section of M6 Metro Line carried out the first rotation of its cutterhead today, marking the start of tunnel excavation on the Tokyo – Aeroport Otopeni segment. The launch of the machine took place during a ceremony that also included a blessing service for the two TBMs, officiated by priests of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on the works platform of the future Brussels metro station.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the General Director of Metrorex S.A., Mariana Miclăuș, and of high-ranking officials, including Mr Ștefan-Ovidiu Popa, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, His Excellency Mr Katae Takashi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Romania, and His Excellency Mr Özgür Kıvanç Altan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Türkiye to Romania.
The event also brought together representatives of the central and local public authorities, of Metrorex S.A., of the Contractor joint ventures responsible for carrying out the project works, of the subcontractors involved, and of the Consultant Supervisor.
“This day marks a new milestone in the construction of M6 Metro Line. With the start of excavation work on the NORTH Section, the tunnels towards Henri Coandă International Airport are beginning to take shape. This is a major infrastructure project that will significantly improve public transport and the mobility of residents in Bucharest and the wider metropolitan area, and will also connect the capital with the country’s main air gateway, Henri Coandă International Airport. Metrorex S.A. builds for people, for a sustainable future,” said Mariana Miclăuș, General Director of Metrorex S.A.
By tradition, TBMs are named after saints. The machine launched today is called “Sfânta Parascheva” (‘Saint Parascheva’), the protector of travellers, whose feast day is on October 14, shortly before the launch. It will excavate the first tunnel of the NORTH Section, on Line 1. The name Parascheva means ‘preparation’, a meaningful name for a machine that paves the way for the metro. The second machine, “Sfânta Ecaterina” (‘Saint Catherine’), will excavate the second tunnel, on Line 2. Saint Catherine is the patron saint of engineers, and the wheel, her symbol, recalls the cutterhead that digs the tunnel. Together, the two names represent both those for whom we are building the metro – the passengers – and those who are building it – the engineers.
Tunnelling on the NORTH Section is carried out in two stages, starting from the launch shaft at the future Bruxelles metro station. In the first stage, the tunnels will be excavated towards the future Tokyo metro station, the connection point with the SOUTH Section of the line. Excavation works began today on Line 1 and will follow on Line 2. In the second stage, the machines will be relaunched from Bruxelles future metro station towards Aeroport Otopeni, on each line. The tunnels will provide the connection with the SOUTH Section of M6 Metro Line, as well as the link between the six stations of the NORTH Section: Washington, Paris, Bruxelles, Otopeni, Ion I.C. Brătianu and Aeroport Otopeni.
The TBM “Sfânta Parascheva” is an EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) machine, with a total length of 103 metres (including the back-up train) and a weight of 602 tonnes (shield – 380 tonnes, back-up train – 222 tonnes). The cutterhead has a diameter of 6.57 metres (excavation diameter). The machine is adapted to the geological conditions along the route – sandy clay, Colentina gravels and dusty sand, with the ground water at a depth of 2-7 metres. The estimated average advance is 14 metres per day, equivalent to 10 tunnel rings of 1.4 metres each. As it excavates and removes the soil, the TBM installs the precast concrete rings that form the tunnel.
Metrorex announces that the transport of the components of the two TBMs that will bore the tunnels of M6 Metro Line on the NORTH Section (Tokyo – Aeroport Otopeni) to the construction site of the future Bruxelles metro station has begun. The two TBMs are EPB (Earth Pressure Balance) machines, each 103 m long and weighing 602 tonnes (including the technological equipment assembly), with a cutterhead diameter of 6.57 m. Once all the components have been transported and assembled in the launch shaft at Bruxelles station, the TBMs will excavate the two tunnels of the NORTH Section. The estimated average advance is around 14 m per day for each TBM, equivalent to 10 tunnel rings, each 1.4 m wide. The TBMs will pass through layers of sandy clay, Colentina gravels and silty sand, with the water table at a depth of approximately 2–7 m below ground level.
The works are part of the “Bucharest International Airport Rail Access Link Project (Metro Line 6. 1 Mai-Otopeni). Design and Build – Civil Works for Lot 1.2: Tokyo-Aeroport Otopeni”. The transport and preparation of the TBMs for the excavation of the two tunnels of the NORTH Section marks a new important stage in the implementation of the project.
TBM “Sfânta Ana” broke through the wall of the future Piața Montreal metro station, today, on the alignment of the future M6 Metro Line.
The boring shield excavating the Line 1 tunnel on the SOUTH Section of M6 Metro Line has thereby completed the third tunnel segment on this line, running from the future Tokyo metro station towards 1 Mai station.
The double-track tunnel completed so far between the future Tokyo – Aeroport Băneasa – Gara Băneasa – Piața Montreal metro stations totals almost 3 km. On Line 1, TBM “Sfânta Ana” has excavated 2,838 linear metres and assembled 1,887 tunnel rings.
The length of the underground tunnel that TBM “Sfânta Ana” will complete as far as 1 Mai station is 6.6 km.
“We are content with the progress of works on M6 Metro Line. The breaking through of the wall at Piața Montreal station by TBM “Sfânta Ana” marks another important achievement in the construction of M6 Metro Line. The project is advancing at an efficient pace. M6 will provide a fast and modern connection between the metro network and Henri Coandă International Airport, contributing significantly to the development of urban mobility in Bucharest,” said Mariana MICLĂUȘ, Director General of Metrorex.
The “moles” of M6 Metro Line dig the earth, bring it to the surface and build the tunnel behind them, almost simultaneously. Their technical name is TBM, from Tunnel Boring Machine.
The TBMs “Sfânta Maria” and “Sfânta Ana”, which are working on the SOUTH Section of M6 Metro Line, weigh around 600 tonnes and have cutterheads roughly 6.60 metres in diameter. In length, they come close to a football pitch. They enter the ground, and behind them they leave a circular, reinforced tunnel, ready for the next stages.
The front of the TBM carries the cutterhead, a huge metal disc fitted with cutting tools. It rotates, breaks up the ground and pushes the material into a chamber where the pressure is controlled at all times. The pressure keeps the excavation face stable and allows the machine to advance under control. From there, the material travels onto a screw conveyor, then onto conveyor belts, and out of the tunnel. It is loaded up and taken to authorised sites.
While digging goes on at the front, the tunnel is already being assembled behind the shield.
Segments and tunnel rings
The TBM advances using hydraulic rams that push against the last ring installed. After each advance, an erector lifts the segments, the precast concrete elements, and sets them side by side until a new ring is closed. A gap remains between the concrete ring and the ground, which is filled by injecting a special grout known as bentonite. The operation fixes the structure in place and helps stabilise the surrounding ground.
Then the cycle begins again: excavate, remove the material, advance the machine, install a ring, inject the grout. And so it goes, a few metres a day, month after month.
How the “mole” knows where to go
Tens of metres underground, orientation has nothing to do with instinct. The TBM has guidance systems, sensors and survey reference points tied to the project coordinates. The operators follow the alignment constantly and can correct the direction with very precise adjustments. From the control cabin they monitor, in real time, the pressure in the excavation chamber, the amount of material extracted and the position of the machine in relation to the designed axis. The operating parameters of the cutterhead and of the hydraulic systems, as well as the operations involved in fitting the rings are added to these are.
Under standard conditions, the TBMs on the SOUTH Section of M6 Metro Line in Bucharest advance at an average speed of approximately 1.5 metres per hour. It doesn’t seem like much, until you see what happens during that hour: the machine excavates around 60 cubic metres of material and prepares for the installation of the tunnel’s permanent structure.
An average of 13 to 14 rings are installed in 24 hours. The teams work in three shifts and the activity is continuous, with the breaks as required for checks and maintenance. The pace varies according to the ground, the recorded parameters and the maintenance work.
Romania’s “moles”: from the metro to tunnels through the mountains
TBM technology is not being used in Romania for the first time. On M5 Metro Line in Bucharest, the excavation was carried out by “Sfânta Varvara” and “Sfânta Filofteia”.
On the Brașov – Sighișoara railway line, on the Apața – Cața subsection, four TBMs are at work, “Eleni”, “Varvara”, “Alexandra” and “Konstantina”, on the Ormeniș and Homorod twin tunnels. The railway machines have a different diameter and work in different geological conditions, but the principle is the same: controlled excavation, removal of the material, immediate installation of the structure and monitoring of the parameters.
The names follow a long tradition in tunnelling projects. Saint Barbara is regarded as the protector of miners and of those who work underground. On M6 Metro Line, the tradition continues with “Sfânta Maria” and “Sfânta Ana”.
What happens at the surface
Although the activity takes place underground, the operation of the TBM is backed by an extensive monitoring system. The pressure in the excavation chamber, the amount of material extracted, the route of the machine and the soil characteristics are checked at all times. In the areas within the zone of influence of the works, special equipment is used to monitor the ground and the buildings.
The underground route to the airport
M6 Metro Line will have 14.2 kilometres of double track and 12 stations, and will create the first direct metro connection between Gara de Nord and Henri Coandă International Airport.
The video shows how the machine advances and how the concrete segments become, ring by ring, the structure of the future tunnel.
Press “Play” and step inside a TBM for a few minutes.
Between 17 and 19 August 2026, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) carried out a new mission in Bucharest to monitor the project co-financed through the ROM-P5 loan agreement for M6 Metro Line.
“Bucharest International Airport Rail Access Link Project (Metro Line 6. 1 Mai – Otopeni)” is a project of considerable local relevance, with a significant regional and international impact.
On behalf of JICA, one of the strategic funders of the M6 project, the delegation was led by Ms Hiroko Amano, Deputy Director within the Europe Division of the Department for the Middle East and Europe. During the visit, the JICA delegation held working meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Finance, the Embassy of Japan in Romania, the supervisor, the contractors for Lot 1.1 and Lot 1.2, appointed for the design and build of the civil works, and the contractor for Package 2, appointed for the design and execution of the architectural works, railways, electromechanical and low-current installations.
The agenda of the mission included progress meetings to review the status of the project’s implementation and to secure the necessary budget allocations, as well as site visits. The Metrorex team, coordinated by Director General Mariana Miclăuș, presented the status of the works on the sites of the future M6 Metro Line. During these visits, the progress achieved and the next stages of the project were reviewed. In order to strengthen safety management in construction, the JICA mission paid particular attention to occupational safety, organising a seminar on the subject.
“Bucharest International Airport Rail Access Link Project (Metro Line 6. 1 Mai – Otopeni)” is a public utility project of national interest, in accordance with Government Decision no. 496/2017, as subsequently amended and supplemented, which addresses people’s mobility needs through the development of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T). The design and execution of the North Section of the new M6 Metro Line is financed from the state budget and from refundable external funds, through the external loan granted by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).
The dialogue reconfirmed the importance of the strategic Romanian-Japanese partnership and the shared commitment to developing the BUCHAREST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT RAIL ACCESS LINK PROJECT (METRO LINE 6. 1 MAI – OTOPENI) infrastructure project, a major investment landmark that is representative of the successful partnership between the two countries.
On 7 July 2026, the United Nations held the first annual meeting to review the progress made under the “UN Decade of Sustainable Transport 2026–2035” – the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport Annual Stocktake.
The event, held as part of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, highlighted the role of sustainable transport in accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The discussions covered passenger and freight transport and their connections with economic development, sustainable infrastructure, jobs, sustainable energy, inclusive cities, climate action and health (details here: Official programme of the HLPF 2026 events – UN).
The UN Decade of Sustainable Transport was established by the UN General Assembly through Resolution A/RES/78/148, for the ten-year period that began on 1 January 2026. The initiative seeks to accelerate the development of safe, accessible, efficient, resilient and sustainable transport systems (further details here: UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/78/148).
Sustainable transport means more than cutting emissions
The UN implementation plan for 2026–2035 shows that sustainable transport is not limited to protecting the environment. It must give people safe and predictable access to jobs, education, healthcare, markets and other opportunities.
Among the priority directions are the expansion of high-quality public transport, reducing dependence on cars, improving urban connectivity and developing accessible, safe, reliable and frequent services. According to the UN, investment in public transport can help reduce emissions and pollution, and can also improve access to opportunities for residents and for the business community.
M6 Metro Line – a European capital’s answer to the need for sustainable mobility
For Bucharest and its metropolitan area, these international objectives come to a concrete shape through the development of M6 Metro Line. The new line will have 14.2 kilometres of double track and 12 stations, connecting the capital’s metro network with residential, retail and business areas in the north of Bucharest, with the town of Otopeni and with Henri Coandă International Airport.
By extending high-capacity public transport along the Bucharest – Otopeni corridor, M6 Metro Line will offer an alternative to road travel. Shifting part of these journeys from the car to the metro can help reduce the pressure on traffic, local pollution and transport-related emissions.
The impact will also be social. The stations of the new line will bring public transport closer to the communities in the north of the capital and in Otopeni, making it easier to reach jobs, services, education, retail areas and airport infrastructure.
A local contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
M6 Metro Line is relevant to several of the goals of the 2030 Agenda:
SDG 9 – Industry, innovation and infrastructure, through the development of modern public transport infrastructure;
SDG 11 – Sustainable cities and communities, through wider access to a high-capacity public transport system;
SDG 13 – Climate action, by creating the conditions for shifting journeys from individual road transport to public transport;
SDG 8 – Decent work and economic growth, through better access to business areas, jobs and airport infrastructure.
The project’s contribution to these goals does not come from building new infrastructure alone. It will also depend on the quality of the future service, on the accessibility of the stations, on integration with other modes of transport and, above all, on the number of people who choose the metro for their journeys.
M6 Metro Line is therefore an investment in the way Bucharest and its metropolitan area will develop in the future: better connected, more predictable and more sustainable.
15 June marks International Wind Energy Day / Global Wind Day, a moment dedicated to energy produced with the help of wind and to the role it can play in the transition towards a more sustainable energy system.
Starting on the night of 13/14 July 2026, a new stage of temporary traffic restrictions comes into force in the area of the junction between Șoseaua București – Ploiești (DN1) and Jandarmeriei Street, required for the utility relocation works for the future Washington Station of M6 Metro Line.
The following traffic restrictions will apply during this stage: • the left turn from Jandarmeriei Street towards Otopeni is closed; • straight-ahead movement on the Bucharest exit slip road of the Jandarmeriei overpass is closed.
The restrictions are imposed on the basis of the joint approval issued by C.N.A.I.R. and I.G.P.R., valid until 31 December 2026, with the possibility of an extension depending on how the works progress.
Traffic participants are asked to drive carefully, to observe the temporary road signs and to use the alternative routes indicated in the area.
We apologise for this inconvenience and thank all traffic participants for their understanding and cooperation.
Updated information on the progress of the works and on traffic restrictions will be published periodically on the official website of the project and on the communication channels of M6 Metro Line.
Mărțișorul este mai mult decât un simplu simbol al primăverii – este o tradiție cu rădăcini adânci în cultura românească, o punte între trecut și viitor, între natură și om.
📜 Origini și Evoluție
🔍 Cercetările arheologice atestă existența mărțișorului de peste 8.000 de ani, fiind asociat cu obiceiurile dacice și romane. În trecut, oamenii purtau amulete din pietricele vopsite în alb și roșu, legate cu un fir împletit, pentru noroc și protecție.
🏛 În Roma Antică, 1 martie marca începutul primăverii și al noului an, sub patronajul lui Marte, zeul războiului, dar și al fertilității și regenerării naturii.
🎨 Semnificația Culorilor
🔴 Roșu – simbolizează viața, pasiunea și energia. ⚪ Alb – reprezintă puritatea, echilibrul și înțelepciunea.
Împreună, cele două culori reflectă lupta contrariilor – iarna și primăvara, întunericul și lumina, trecutul și viitorul.
🌿 Tradiții și Obiceiuri
Mărțișorul a fost purtat dintotdeauna ca un talisman aducător de noroc, sănătate și prosperitate. După o anumită perioadă, acesta era: 🌳 Legat de crengile unui copac înflorit – pentru a aduce belșug și fertilitate. 💦 Aruncat în râu – într-un ritual ce marca începutul unui nou ciclu al vieții.
