Delay for D35. The minister admitted for the first time that the construction of the two sections will only start in 2026

The section from Opatovce to Mohelnice will become the second “leasing” highway.

The Ministry of Transport indirectly admitted for the first time that due to errors in the first competition for a transaction consultant for the construction of two highway sections D35 Opatovec – Staré Město and Staré Město – Mohelnice, construction will start later than the state had previously stated. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 at the earliest. So far, work has been talked about starting in 2025.

Such a date is also indicated in the information leaflets for the construction, as well as in this week’s updated ŘSD map for the construction dates. If the state really hastened the construction of D35, it could very likely start construction this year as well. The section from Opatovce already has a valid building permit, the construction procedure for the second section is underway.

But the state decided that instead of building the highway using the standard method of bidding out contractors, it would use the PPP method. A private company will build the highway. Subsequently, the state will lease it and take care of operation and maintenance. Simply put, it’s a leased highway. In the Czech Republic, part D4 is now being built using this method.

“At the Fastest Pace”

The deadline in 2026 is informed by the ministry’s press release, in which it describes the current state of highway preparation. “Starting today, both the separate PPP project preparation department and the transaction advisor have the task of preparing the selection of the concessionaire as quickly as possible and under precisely set transparent conditions so that construction can begin in 2026.” stated in Tuesday’s press release the Minister of Transport Martin Kupka.

The delay was caused by the cancellation of the first competition for a transaction advisor. It was listed already last year in January and canceled in October. Only a few days ago, the ministry signed a contract with the association that emerged from the second tender.

The winner was the White & Case consortium, law firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers Czech Republic, SIEBERT + TALAŠ and Mott MacDonald CZ. “The task of this team is to prepare, in the shortest possible time, the selection of a concessionaire who will be in charge of the construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the D35 section between Opatovec and Mohelnica, as well as the operation and maintenance of the section from Litomyšl to Opatovec,” the ministry said in a press release. According to Kupka, work is “starting at a fast pace”.

In mid-June, the Ministry wants to present the key parameters of the D35 highway sections project to potential bidders.

“At the Fastest Pace”

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