The Transport, Construction and Regional Development ministry of Slovakia has reported that a final decision on whether to proceed with the D4 - R7 expressways PPP project will be announced on January 2015.

The Transport Ministry plans to issue the tender process for the construction of the D4 highway and the R7 express double-carriageway sections by the beginning of 2015. The construction work on the four sections is set to start between late 2015 or early 2016.

The 60 km road project involves the development of a section of the D4 highway set to form the Bratislava bypass, along with the sections of the R7 expressway.

The total project investment is estimated at €1.3 billion (US$1.59 billion). According to the Slovak Finance Ministry, the federal government plans to apply for funds from the US$26.2 billion European Fund for Strategic Investment (EFSI), which is part of European Commission's US$388 billion three-year investment plan to boost Europe's struggling economy.

In late October we reported that the consortium composed by PwC, White & Case and the Obermeyer Corporate Group was selected to advise the government on the PPP project.

On October 23th, 2013, the Slovakian government approved the re-financing of the R1 Expressway project between Nitra and Banská Bystrica. The project was also built using the PPP model. A consortium of Vinci Concessions and Meridiam Infrastructure is the sponsor of the project.

Slovakia's federal government has plans to invest US$638 million in motorways in 2015, which is about 16% lower than the government had budgeted.