A9 Motorway
The background
To address increasing traffic volumes and improve road safety, 46.5km of the A9 Federal Motorway, in Germany, required widening from four to six lanes.
The A9 Motorway project was the first successful implementation of an availability model contract in Germany, involving the widening of certain heavily congested German motorways.
In 2011, the Federal State of Germany represented by the State of Thuringia and DEGES (German Unity Motorway Planning and Construction Department), awarded the Via Gateway Thüringen consortium the PPP contract to design, build, finance and maintain the road extension.
The consortium compromises – Invesis and VINCI Concessions.
Upgrading the A9 was essential as it is the most important North-South connection between the eastern federal states and southern Germany.
The road is also part of the Trans-European Network (TEN), linking Germany to Austria and Italy, enabling the efficient transportation of goods and cargo to each country.
Client
Federal Republic of Germany represented by Autobahn GmbH in turn represented by DEGES Deutsche Einheit Fernstraßen-planungs- und–bau GmbH
Capital Value
€131m
Sponsor/Investor
Invesis and VINCI Concessions
Consortium
Via Gateway Thüringen GmbH @ Co KG (Invesis and VINCI Concessions)
Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC)
Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau, Eurovia
Operations and Maintenance (O&M)
Via Gateway Thüringen GmbH @ Co KG
Business value
At the time, PPP projects were relatively new within Germany. By partnering with the Via Gateway Thüringen GmbH @ Co KG consortium, the client worked with an experienced partner with a suitable, feasible and solid financing concept, which offered sufficient risk allocation and sustainable construction and operation services.
The concession became operational in 2014, since then the A9 has been maintained to an exceptional standard. Positive feedback was received from the client on how the concession was managed during the coronavirus pandemic. Invesis worked with our maintenance partners to develop an emergency plan, to ensure the continuation of operational services and eliminate the risk of disruption to road users.
The long-term success of the motorway will be achieved by maintaining the road’s condition of appearance and performance throughout the lifecycle of the project.
Key features
By using the PPP contract approach and partnering with the Via Gateway Thüringen GmbH @ Co KG consortium, the project…
- was delivered on time and in an immaculate condition
- was the first project under Germany’s ‘A-Model’ programme where the payment mechanism is availability-based rather than toll-based
- has an innovative Cost + Fee mechanism for the repairs of Alcali Silicia Reaction (ASR) damages
