Czech Republic aims to start D35 highway PPP construction this year

The Czech Ministry of Transport has received offers from three international consortia to complete the 35.4‑kilometre D35 highway segment between Opatovec and Mohelnice under a public‑private partnership (PPP). The proposals value the availability payments at between CZK 71.3 billion and CZK 86 billion, with the lowest bid submitted by the ViAlliance35 group. The ministry plans to evaluate the submissions, select the preferred bidder by September and, if approved, begin construction in 2024.

Minister of Transport Ivan Bednárik called the project "the historically largest PPP in Czech transport infrastructure" and said the evaluation of the documentation will be completed in the first half of the autumn. Lenka Hamplová, director of the ministry’s economic and infrastructure section, stressed that the state will start paying the concessionaire only after all sections are built and operational, with payments tied to availability and quality standards. The 22‑year concession will cover construction, operation and maintenance, while toll revenues will flow to the State Fund for Transport Infrastructure.

When completed, the D35 upgrade will link eastern Bohemia with central Moravia, ease traffic on the existing I/35 route and divert some transit traffic from the overloaded D1 motorway, providing a major boost to regional connectivity.