Romanian capital to get subway line to airport by 2022

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - The city council of Romania's capital, Bucharest, has approved a one billion-euro ($1.12 billion) project to build a subway connecting the city to the main airport.

Officials said Thursday that the 14-kilometer (8.8-mile) underground line will have 12 stations, and will run from a residential area in northern Bucharest to the Henri Coanda Airport. It will stop at a major shopping center, the U.S. Embassy and the ring road, among other places.

Ionel Oprea, technical manager of Metrorex, which runs the city's subway, said work will begin next year and will likely be completed in 2022. One third of the project will be financed by a loan from Japan. The European Union and the state budget will cover the rest.

Oprea said 55 private properties would be moved.