On 7 December 2020, the consortium consisting in equal parts of VINCI and Meridiam (50/50), led by VINCI Highways, was designated as preferred bidder by the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Transport for the PPP contract for the D4 motorway linking Příbram (Central Bohemia) to Písek (South Bohemia).

The project consists in designing, finance, build, operate and maintain a new 32 km motorway and converting 17 km of existing infrastructure into a dual two-lane carriageway. The new highway will provide an improved road connection between rural South Bohemia and Prague, consequently fostering economic and social development, and will also contribute to improving traffic conditions on the country’s major commercial routes, particularly towards neighbouring Germany and Austria. The contract is for 28 years (including approximately 4 years of construction work) and represents an investment of some CZK 16.5 billion. Design and construction will be carried out by Eurovia CS, a Czech subsidiary of Eurovia (VINCI). Present in the Czech Republic since 1992, Eurovia employs more than 3,000 people there and is one of the main player in transport infrastructure construction in the country.

One of the first public-private partnerships (PPP) motorway contracts awarded by the Czech Republic, this project is distinguished by its focus on innovation and environmental sustainability. It will be carried out using a full BIM (Building Information Modelling) approach, a first in the country for a road construction project. The new motorway will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies that will, among other things, guarantee a high level of road safety and comfort for motorists and improve traffic conditions and traffic flow, thus reducing congestion and pollution.

From an environmental standpoint, the project includes the recycling and reuse of up to 1.9 million cu. metres of excavated materials, as well as a commitment to recycle up to 60% of the total volume of asphalt mix. New storm water retention ponds, wildlife crossings and a “zero pesticide commitment” will contribute to preserving biodiversity.

In addition to having signed an agreement in early October for a motorway PPP contract in Kenya, VINCI and Meridiam are also partners in a number of other transport infrastructure projects, such as the South Europe Atlantic (Tours-Bordeaux) high-speed rail line, and road-building projects in Germany, Slovakia and the United Kingdom.