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DIF’s consortium, ViA6West, consisting of HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions, JOHANN BUNTE Bauunternehmung and DIF Infrastructure IV, has been awarded the contract for the construction and operation of the extension of the A6 highway in Germany.

The ViA6West consortium has been awarded the contract to plan, finance, build, operate and maintain the extension of the A6 highway between the Wiesloch / Rauenberg junction and the Weinsberg motorway junction in Baden-Württemberg.

The project will result in 25.5km of six lanes of new highway and the renewal of the 1.3 km Neckartal bridge between Heilbronn / Untereisenheim and Neckarsulm, and includes the operation and maintenance of the A6 over a total length of 47.2 kilometers.

The transaction amount is around €1.3 billion (US$1.4 billion) with construction costs of approximately €600 million (US$653 million).

DIF Infrastructure IV has a 50% shareholding in the ViA6West consortium, with HOCHTIEF PPP Solutions holding 30% and JOHANN BUNTE Bauunternehmung holding 20%.

Financial close is expected in December 2016, with construction work due to start in 2017 and with completion expected in the summer of 2022. After completion, ViA6West will operate and maintain the motorway section until 2046.

The project will be operated under an availability payment schedule.