The government of France through the Ministry of Transport has announced that Vinci has won the tender process for the A-335 western Strasbourg bypass concession.
Commercial closure is expected to be reached by early 2016. The contract involves building a bypass around Strasbourg to the north and west through the Kochersberg region, linking the A4 to the A35/A352 junction.
The contract will run for 55 years and cover the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of a new 24 km section of toll motorway. The total project investment is estimated at €475 million (US$539.2 million).
On 13 January 13 2012, Vinci was also named preferred bidder beating competition from rivals Bouygues and Eiffage. Months later, the project was cancelled due to political reasons.
Commissioned by Minister for Transport, Frédéric Cuvillier, the General Council of the Environment and Sustainable Development (CGEDD) analyzed the relevance of the project. The studies suggested that the new project should be modified leading to a smaller project and to the commitment to redevelop the A35 road.
In this context, Frédéric Cuvillier decided to launch a notice of public tendering for the project.