Egis consortium opens Austria's first PPP-financed motorway

The State Minister of Lower Austria, Dr Erwin Pröll, has opened to traffic the first Austrian Public Private Partnership (PPP) motorway project. The 51km (32 miles) project includes several sections located on the A5 motorway between Vienna and the Czech Republic. This is the second phase of the project and consists of Section S1 West and A5 South (between Eibesbrunn and Schrick), which is 35km (22 miles) in total and includes four tunnels. The first phase, consisting of Sections S2 and S1 East, which is 16km (10 miles) in total, opened in November 2009.

In December 2006, ASFiNAG (Austrian Autobahnen-und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-Aktiengesellschaft), awarded the contract to design, build, finance and operate this first section of Vienna’s north-eastern bypass to the concession company Bonaventura. Egis Projects holds 11.2% stake in the company Bonaventura, with the German company, Hochtief PPP Solutions (lead company) and the Austrian company, Alpine Bau, each holding a 44.4% stake. In addition to being a shareholder of the concession company, Egis Projects (40%), in association with its partners Alpine Energy (30%) and Hochtief Construction (30%), is in charge of the equipment supply and delivery contract, which is valued at more than US$70 million (EUR 50 million).

Egis’ work included the engineering, design, procurement and commissioning of all electro-mechanical and safety related equipment in the tunnels, together with the traffic management and communication systems for the entire length of the motorway. The road will be operated for a period of 30 years by a special purpose operating company, Bonaventura Strassenerhaltungs, established under the leadership of Egis Road Operation. The US$1.3 billion (EUR 933 million) project has been fully privately financed. The project has won several awards, including the International Road Federation (IRF) 2007 Global Road Achievement Award (GRAA).

3 February 2010