VINCI
The project will see the construction of a new 32km motorway. Credit: VINCI.

The Czech Republic’s Ministry of Transport has awarded a public-private partnership (PPP) motorway contract to a consortium consisting of VINCI and Meridiam, who will construct the D4 motorway linking Příbram (Central Bohemia) to Písek (South Bohemia).

The VINCI and Meridiam (50:50) consortium is led by VINCI Highways.

It is the first PPP contract awarded in the Czech Republic and will see an investment of approximately CZK16.5bn ($754m).

The project includes the design, construction and financing of a new 32km motorway, as well as the conversion of 17km of existing infrastructure into a dual two-lane carriageway.

The 28-year PPP contract will include nearly four years of construction work, which will be carried out by Eurovia CS, a Czech subsidiary of Eurovia (VINCI).

The project will be executed using a full building information modelling (BIM) approach, which is claimed to be first in the country for a road construction project.

Featuring advanced technologies, the new motorway project is expected to offer road safety improvements, with improved traffic conditions and traffic flow.

Once completed, the highway will provide road connections between rural South Bohemia and Prague while improving traffic conditions on the country’s major commercial routes, especially those leading to Germany and Austria.

The motorway will be maintained and operated by VINCI Highways.

With an objective of preserving biodiversity, new stormwater retention ponds and wildlife crossings will be built as part of the project.

In October, VINCI and Meridiam secured a €1.3bn PPP motorway contract in Kenya.

The contract to develop the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit Highway was awarded by the Government of Kenya.

The project work includes the conversion of an existing trunk road into a 175km dual two-lane motorway.