Preferred bidder selected for Czech €2.9 billion motorway project

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 6, the Czech Ministry of Transport officially selected the ViAlliance35 consortium as the preferred bidder for the D35 motorway public-private partnership (PPP) project. The project covers approximately 52 kilometers of motorway, with an estimated present value of payments during the concession period of approximately €2.9 billion. The consortium consists of Austria's STRABAG Group, Spain's Ferrovial subsidiary Cintra, Poland's Budimex, and the Netherlands' Invesis, and plans to sign the concession agreement and commence construction by the end of 2026.

The project is located in the Czech motorway corridor between Litomyšl and Mohelnice, with the construction and operation scope including a 35.4-kilometer new-build section between Opatovec and Mohelnice, as well as the operation and maintenance of approximately 17 kilometers of existing motorway between Litomyšl and Opatovec. The new road is designed as a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction.

The works include two twin-tube road tunnels, with the Dětřichov tunnel approximately 4 kilometers long and the Maletín tunnel approximately 1.3 kilometers long, both to be constructed by STRABAG. In addition, the project will include two motorway service areas and road facilities connecting to the I/35 road. The civil construction of the new-build section is planned to be led by two Czech subsidiaries of STRABAG, forming a construction consortium with Budimex.

The ViAlliance35 consortium submitted its bid in July 2026 and achieved the best overall result in the technical and economic evaluation. The net present value of the proposed availability payments published by the Czech Ministry of Transport is CZK 71.3238 billion. The concession period is 28 years, commencing from the completion of financial close.

The Czech Road and Motorway Directorate has obtained the necessary permits for the project and completed preparations related to land acquisition, with some archaeological surveys and utility relocation works already carried out in advance. The project concession agreement still requires approval from the Czech government and the Chamber of Deputies, and the financing agreement is expected to be signed in the first quarter of 2027. According to the competent authority's arrangements, the corresponding construction preparation works can commence upon signing of the concession agreement.