Overview

• A Ferrovial-led UTE comprising FCC Construcciones and Contratas y Ventas won the contract after nine bids produced an 11% budget cut and a top score of 92.78, with four offers discarded for unfeasibly low budgets.
• The agreement is valued at €323 million excluding VAT, rising to €390.9 million once the tax is applied.
• Formalization is slated in the coming months so machinery can begin work before year-end, with ministry sources indicating construction could start in late September.
• The 8.2 km stretch crosses the Montes Obarenes and demands viaducts or tunnels for three-quarters of its route, including a 4,058 m tunnel.
• Separately, the Basque government has approved a €2.4 million contract to draft the Arkaute junction design, which will link the regional high-speed ‘Y’ to Spain’s network near Vitoria.