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Representatives of the Romanian National Company of Motorways and National Roads (CNADNR) announced yesterday that a consortium of Vinci (37.5%), Strabag (37.5%) and Aktor Concession (25%) has won the tender process for the 58 km long Comarnic-Brasov motorway concession in center Romania.

The consortium beat competition from another consortium comprising Italian companies Impregilo and Salini. Romania's UMB Spedition, a highway construction firm controlled by local businessperson Dorinel Umbrarescu, gave up its intention to submit an offer. According to sources, China Communications Constructions Company Ltd. had also been shortlisted for the project.

Representatives of the Romanian National Company of Motorways and National Roads (CNADNR) refused to comment on the price. Construction will start next year, said today PM Victor Ponta during the opening event of a segment of the Sibiu- Orastie- highway.

The construction of the 58km highway connecting Comarnic and Brasov is estimated to cost between €1.2 billion and €1.3 billion and should be completed in 2016 or 2017, according to Dan Sova, the minister of grand infrastructure projects.

The work, to be carried out by a consortium made up of VINCI Construction Grands Projets (leader), VINCI Construction Terrassement, STRABAG and AKTOR, will include the construction of three major interchanges, 39 bridges and three dual-tube tunnels with a total length of 19.4 km.

The highway is meant to ease traffic on the National Road 1 (DN1) which links capital Bucharest to the northwestern part of the country and crosses the popular Prahova Valley where several moutain resorts are located.

This is the second time Vinci and Aktor win the contract for the Comarnic-Brasov highway. The first time was in 2009 but at that time the two companies and the authorities did not  agree on the final form of the contract.

During the tender phase representatives of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) met with the Romanian Minister delegate for Infrastructure Projects of National Interest and Foreign Investments, Dan Sova to show their willingness to finance the project.