On 29 April 2021, the consortium consisting of VINCI Highways and Meridiam (50/50) completed the financing of the PPP contract for the D4 motorway linking Příbram (Central Bohemia) and Písek (South Bohemia). This contract won in December 2020, was signed with the Czech Transport Ministry on 15 February 2021.

The project consists of designing, financing, building, operating and maintaining a new 32km motorway and widening an existing 16km section of road to two lanes in each direction. The new motorway will provide an improved road connection between rural South Bohemia and Prague, thereby fostering economic and social development, and will also help improve traffic conditions on major commercial routes, particularly towards neighbouring Germany and Austria.

The contract is for 28 years including 3.5 years of construction work, which will begin in mid-May and will be carried out by VINCI subsidiary Eurovia, which has operated in the Czech Republic since 1992. It employs more than 3,000 people in the country, where it is one of the main players in transport infrastructure construction.

The project will help to boost the economy and create local jobs, and has strong environmental credentials. It includes the recycling and reuse of 1.9 million m3 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.

€474 million of financing has been arranged for the project through debt denominated in both euros and Czech koruna.