Basarab Passage, Bucharest – Tram Station Cover

The concept for Basarab Passage was conceived as early as 1989. The plan was only materialized in 1999, when the government agency developed a plan for transportation in the capital.

History – Basarab Passage

In 2000, the project was included in the General Urban Plan, and the capital’s leadership signed an agreement with the European Investment Bank to finance the work.

In 2004, the design of the passage underwent structural changes, and construction work began in 2006.

On June 19, 2011, Basarab Passage was opened to vehicle traffic. The construction lasted 5 years and 4 months.

Technical Details – Basarab Passage

Basarab Passage has an impressive length of 2 km, 4 traffic lanes, and 2 tram lines located in the center of the passage. In total, the passage has 11 access ramps, of which 2 are main ramps at the ends of the passage, and 9 are secondary.

The total construction cost of the passage was 240 million euros.

The Cable-Stayed Bridge at Basarab Passage (supported by cables) is 222 meters long and is supported by over 3000 cables connected to 84-meter high pylons.

The Cable-Stayed Bridge also represents an intermodal point, the largest in Romania. It brings together, in the same place, the tram line on the bridge, 3 tram lines under the bridge, bus and trolleybus lines, metro lines, 2 railway stations, as well as specially arranged spaces for taxis and 2 bus stations for domestic and international transport.

Basarab Passage is an important intermodal point for Bucharest transport, bringing together tram, metro, trolleybus, and bus lines, 2 railway stations, and dedicated taxi space. Nearby are also 2 bus stations.

Basarab Passage is designed to be used by 4000 cars per hour and is currently used daily by over 60,000 people.

Compact Polycarbonate – Basarab Passage

On Basarab Passage, there is a tram station with a length of 90 meters and a width of 19 meters. It has 4 fixed stairs, 4 escalators, and 4 elevators.

To protect travelers from weather conditions, over 700 compact polycarbonate sheets with a thickness of 12 mm were installed. The total weight of the compact polycarbonate used is 300 tons.

Compact polycarbonate was chosen for Basarab Passage due to its durability and extended warranty against adverse weather conditions. It has a 10-year warranty against yellowing or visual degradation.

Additionally, compact polycarbonate is manufactured with UV protection, preventing greenhouse effects.

Due to the large number of travelers using the tram on Basarab Passage, a durable solution was necessary to ensure their protection. Compact polycarbonate has exceptional impact resistance, being unbreakable, thus travelers are protected from potential shards.

For Basarab Passage, compact polycarbonate was cold-bent and mounted in a metal frame, creating a solid and resistant structure.