The European Investment Bank (EIB) on August 19th announced on its website that the Slovakian government has made a request to get EIB's financing for the D4 - R7 expressways PPP project.

The total project investment is estimated at €1.3 billion (US$1.59 billion) and the amount of financing requested from the bank is of €500 million.

The project consists of the design, construction, finance, operation and maintenance of approximately 27 km of the D4 motorway around Bratislava and some 32 km of the connecting R7 expressway under the terms of a 30 year concession agreement.

InfraPPP announced in June 2015 that four teams led by Vinci, Strabag, Porr and Hochtief have been shortlisted for the project.

The project will provide enhanced transport capacity to the Bratislava region and improved connectivity both locally and strategically. Socio-economic benefits are mainly expected from improved and more reliable journey times.

A consortium composed of PwC, White & Case and the Obermeyer Corporate Group is advising  the government on the PPP project.

The new road will be Slovakia's second-ever PPP project. The first PPP project to be awarded was the R1 Expressway project between Nitra and Banská Bystrica. A consortium of Vinci Concessions and Meridiam Infrastructure is the sponsor of the project.