The Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania has announced that the procurement of the A14 Vilnius - Utena highway through a PPP project has been approved.

The project was  approved in early July by the Ministry of Finance, now it has been approved by government and the parliament. After this approval the tender process is set to begin soon.

The project involves the design and upgrade of the A14 Vilnius - Utena highway stretch between 21.5km and 93.6km. The project also involves the maintenance of the road. The PPP contract will be for a period of 13 years.

Total investment is estimated at LTL605 million (US$238 million). Construction works are estimated to start in 2016.

In mid May 2013 we reported the successful financial close of the Palanga bypass public-private partnership project in Lithuania. The project was among six public-private partnership pilot projects approved by the Lithuanian government in 2009. The Lithuanian Road Administration selected Kauno tiltai and Siauliu plentas to design, build, operate, and finance the Palanga bypass contract, worth €36 million over 25 years.

The contract was awarded following a selection process that began in May 2011. The project is expected to be operational by QII 2015.