Background

The A7 project consists of the design, construction, financing, maintenance, and operation of a 59.75km stretch of the A7 Autobahn between Bockenem and Göttingen in Lower Saxony. The Project includes the extension of c. 29km of roads from 2×2 to 2×3 lanes between the motorway exit of Seesen and the town of Northeim.

The project is an essential North-South road connection for Germany and for Europe as A7 is a component of the TEN-T (Trans European Transport) network and the average daily traffic load on the motorway is c. 50,000 vehicles per day out of which 20% are HGVs.

The consortium formed by Vinci and Meridiam was awarded the Project in February 2017 and construction started in May 2017. The operation and maintenance obligations are self-performed by the Project Company.

Stage:

Under Construction

ESG/SDG Key Facts:

Similar to what is implemented in the other two Meridiam-Vinci road projects in Germany (A4 and A5), a significant focus on safety targeting the road agents has been developed. In particular, staff uses a dedicated app on their mobiles to report all near misses and incidents so that those near misses/incidents can be analysed, debriefed and ultimately avoided.

The Project contributes strongly to partnership for goals by employing a 90% local workforce and actively engaging with
public authorities. The Project actively looks for partnership opportunities to strengthen its commitment to long-term
impactful community projects, it provides already €5k/year to the local fire brigade and Red Cross.

SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)

The project implemented energy monitoring systems and is installing energy efficient fixtures. The following measures were
implemented.

• 2020: Sourcing of Project Company’s electricity exclusively
from renewable energies.
• 2021: change to 100% LEDs at the parking and O&M centre.
• 2023: Installation of PV panels with 60kWp on the roof of the garages and 22kWh battery storage that will charge company’s service vehicles and sale of surplus into the national grid. All these measures allowed a CO2 reduction of 22% since 2018.

SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)

The Project achieved a “good” classification from the International Roughness Index. The Project aims to obtain ISO 14001 (2025) and ISO 50001 2025).

SDG 13 (Climate Action)

The Project Company commissioned an external environmental construction assessment to coordinate all measures to comply with legal requirements regarding species, nature, and landscape protection. In terms of biodiversity, the Project has already implemented preventive measures to protect species, woods and existing waters, and to control emissions, as well as compensation and replacement measures on green areas: Planting of small woody plants, development of grass land, construction of wildcat and amphibian protection fences, wild animal flyovers, extension of crossing aid for animals, etc.
• The Project Company switched from diesel to PHEV light vehicles (6 out of 6).
• 1st CNG/biogas heavy vehicle instead of diesel arrived.
• 2 vans for O&M arrived. These are able to run on HVO100 (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil).