Poland plans push-starting project

In the wake of the difficulties in Poland over the withdrawal of Chinese contractor COVEC from the A2 highway project, the country's government is now looking for a way ahead. In all 16 contractors have been approached by the authorities to negotiate resuming construction work. Among the companies that have been approached by the Polish Government are, Budimex, Eurovia, Hermann Kirchner Polska, Mostostal Warszawa, Polimex-Mostostal, Strabag and Skanska.

The Polish Government is keen for construction to be restarted as soon as possible so that the 30km stretch of the A2 highway between Warsaw and Lodz will be ready before Euro 2012. As a result the authorities are prepared to cut down the time of completing the necessary procedures.

 However, there are legal concerns over whether appointing a contractor without an opening tender process would be questioned by the European Commission. Meanwhile on a rather more positive note, a loan worth €800 million is being supplied by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to Poland's Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) bank. This sum will help fund the construction of a 36km section of the A1 highway between Maciejow and Pyrzowice as well as a 135km stretch of the A4 highway between Szarow and Rzeszow.