Vinci has opened the first three sections of the R1 expressway in Slovakia, which is known as PR1BINA and has been built on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis at a cost of €900m.

The project involves the construction of 52km of four-lane expressways, which have been divided into four sections linking the towns of Nitra and Tekovské Nemce.

The project includes a bypass stretch of Banská Bystrica town that is expected to open in July next year.

The contract also covers the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance for a period of 30 years.

The project was awarded to GRANVIA consortium led by VINCI Concessions in 2009 and Vinci owns a 50% share in the concession.