The Strabag/Meridiam consortium has achieved the financial closure of the German highway A49 PPP after a long bidding process delayed by legal actions.

Finally, the €880 million (US$1 billion) contract begins as planned on September 1, 2020. The financial close was achieved on Friday, 21 August, while the signing of the contract between DEGES (German Unity Motorway Planning and Construction Company) and the winning consortium took place on Tuesday, 25 August. The concession will have a duration period of 30 years. 

The project involves the planning and construction of 30.8km-long four-lane road and the maintenance and operation of 61.8km located in the German state of Hesse. The length is split into four sections:

• Fritzlar to Neuental (about 19.25 km) - O&M only
• Neuental to Schwalmstadt (about 11,76 km) - O&M only
• Schwalmstadt to Stadtallendorf-Nord (about 13.34 km) - construction and O&M
• Stadtallendorf-Nord to Ohmtal-Dreieck (about 17.45 km) - construction and O&M

As part of the trans-European transport network, the A49 has a function of European connection and spatial development and fulfils important Community objectives, such as the proper functioning of the internal market and the strengthening of economic and social cohesion.