Work on the first pedestrian underpass in central Târgu Jiu, located in front of the “Tudor Vladimirescu” National College, is scheduled to begin on Monday, 28 September 2026. For drivers, the immediate effect will not be the closure of the roundabout, but a reduction in its capacity: of the two lanes in each direction, only the lane next to the pavement will remain usable, leaving one lane in each direction.
The first stage involves preparing the construction site, including road markings, traffic delineators and utility relocations. Mayor Marcel Romanescu told AGERPRES that the restriction would last “for a period of time”, until the networks are moved. This means that, at the time of the announcement, no public timeframe expressed in days or weeks had been given for the first phase.
Târgu Jiu underpass: what changes from Monday, 28 September
The construction site is at the roundabout in front of the college, in the area of the project referred to in procurement documents as “Unirii Street – Geneva Street – Republicii Boulevard Pedestrian Underpass”, SMIS code 329420. The procurement documentation explicitly identifies the site as the intersection of these three thoroughfares.
During the initial phase, vehicle traffic will pass through the roundabout, but with less space available. Reducing it from two lanes to one in each direction may lead to longer waiting times during busy periods, especially when pupils arrive at and leave school. As of 25 September, no closure of pedestrian access to the college or separate temporary pedestrian route had been announced.
For pedestrians and parents, the practical consequence is the need to follow the signage installed on site. Around utility works, the pavement route may be adjusted locally even if the roundabout remains open to traffic.
How long the first stage will last, and which deadline is actually confirmed
The short answer is: the first stage does not yet have a precise public end date. The local authority linked this phase to utility relocation, without giving a completion date. It would therefore be incorrect to say that drivers will have one lane in each direction for a fixed number of months.
There is, however, a timeframe that may cause confusion. The notice for the designer’s technical assistance for the CNTV underpass states a duration of 24 months. This covers assistance during the construction period and the works’ warranty period. It is not a public schedule for the restrictions and does not show that the roundabout will be closed for two years.
More important for traffic is the phased timetable outlined by the mayor: after the networks are relocated and the supporting elements installed, the surface slab will be poured. The roundabout is then expected to close completely “for a period of several months”, until the slab cures. The 25 September statement places this intervention possibly at the beginning of 2027; this is not a firm construction date.
For additional information, see School starts on 7 September 2026: the full school-year calendar and what to check before the first day, which explores an aspect directly related to this subject.
| Stage | What is confirmed | Effect on travel | Public timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| From 28 September 2026 | Road markings, traffic delineators and utility relocations | One lane in each direction at the CNTV roundabout | Not announced |
| Structural stage | Installation of supports and pouring of the surface slab | Complete closure of the roundabout | Possibly in early 2027; the estimated duration is several months |
| Underground works | Construction continues after the slab is completed | The authority expects traffic at surface level to return to normal | No detailed public timetable |
Where traffic will be diverted when the roundabout closes completely
The plan announced by City Hall is to use Siretului Street. The street is currently one-way and is expected to be temporarily converted into a two-way street during the full closure. This is the publicly indicated diversion for the period when work on the surface slab will no longer allow traffic through the roundabout in front of the college.
Drivers do not, however, need to wait until then to adjust their route: even the first stage reduces the flow through the intersection. For journeys at fixed times, especially in the morning and afternoon, it is prudent to allow extra time and follow any incidents or temporary restrictions on the Romania LIVE Traffic page.
Public transport and utilities: what has been announced, and what is not yet public
In statements made before work began, the mayor said discussions had taken place with the operators of gas, water, sewerage and electricity networks, as well as with public transport operators. The possibility of partial interruptions was raised, including one of around 24 hours when the networks are connected to the new structure.
However, no notice setting out altered public transport routes or stops for 28 September has been published. Until a statement is issued by the operator or City Hall, it cannot be said that a particular service will be diverted or suspended. The same limitation applies to pedestrian access: the works and their location are confirmed, but no official map of temporary routes has been presented.
Why the CNTV underpass is the first
The underpass at the “Tudor Vladimirescu” National College is the first of three underground pedestrian projects planned along the Unirii Street corridor. The next announced construction site is in front of the Parâng store, where work could begin within no more than two weeks of the 25 September statement. For the underpass in the Central Market area, the tender procedure was still under way after the first procedure was invalidated.
The order matters for traffic: in the first weeks, the confirmed restriction concerns the CNTV roundabout, rather than all points on Unirii Street simultaneously. Once the following construction sites open, the effect on the city centre may become broader, but an exact timetable for overlapping restrictions has not been published.
In brief: from Monday, traffic will pass through a narrower layout; there will be no full closure. No end date has been announced for the first phase. The complete closure is a later stage, estimated by the local authority for early 2027 and associated with a diversion via Siretului Street.
Sources consulted
- AGERPRES – Gorj: Work on the first underpass in the municipality of Târgu Jiu will begin on Monday
- SEAP / Târgu Jiu City Hall – procurement notice for technical assistance for the Unirii Street – Geneva Street – Republicii Boulevard underpass (SMIS 329420)
- Radio Târgu Jiu – Tender launched for the first pedestrian underpass
