Skip to main content

Legal tangle over Polish highway project

The complex legal tangle over Poland's troubled A2 highway project is continuing to develop.
February 29, 2012 Read time: 1 min
The complex legal tangle over Poland's troubled A2 highway project is continuing to develop. The Polish road authority, 1361 GDDKiA, has launched a legal bid for compensation from the Chinese construction firm 2487 COVEC, which had a contract to build a number of sections of the highway. COVEC was hit by spiralling materials costs once work started and was forced to relinquish its contract for the project by the Polish authorities after failing to meet construction deadlines. However COVEC has also launched a counter-suit against GDDKiA for compensation for its losing the contract. The size of COVEC's compensation claim from GDDKiA has not been revealed. However GDDKiA is said to be asking for ?200 million compensation from COVEC. The legal case looks likely to rumble on through the Polish courts for some time. There is also a risk of further or additional action in Europe's courts from other parties involved in this complex legal dispute. COVEC is a subsidiary of 890 China Railway Group Limited.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Polish project procurement practice problems publicised
    December 13, 2013
    Concerns have been expressed regarding procurement practices in Poland for large infrastructure projects. Ulrich Paetzold, director general of FIEC, the European Construction Industry said, "Polish engineers and contractors continue to be concerned about the procurement rules and practices in the country despite recent changes in the procurement regulations and contract conditions." This comment followed a recent meeting between the FIEC and leading Polish consulting engineers and construction companies o
  • Montenegro on the ropes over China deal
    April 13, 2021
    The first 41km of highway cost €20 million per kilometre - one of the most expensive highways in the world.
  • Poland is planning a series of highway projects
    March 15, 2013
    Poland’s Ministry of Transport plans to invest heavily in road projects from 2014-2020. The Polish road authority, GDDKiA, will invest €16.91 billion in new roads. A key project will be for the section of the Berlin-Lisbon A2 highway that runs through Poland. This will run through Zakret near Warsaw and connect to the Minsk Mazowiecki ring road and is expected to cost close to €1.7 billion. Meanwhile the A1 highway linking Pyrzowice and Tuszyn will cost in excess of €1.8 billion. GDDKiA is also planning to
  • Troubles deepen for contractor Odebrecht
    February 24, 2017
    Brazilian contractor Odebrecht is facing serious issues with regards to projects in Colombia and Peru. In Colombia the contract to build the Ruta del Sol II highway, at present 54% complete, is being terminated. Odebrecht is one of the partners in the The Consorcio Estructura Plural Promesa de Sociedad Futura Concesionaria Ruta del Sol consortium that was carrying out the contract. The consortium partners have also agreed not to claim for any compensation. In Peru meanwhile there is increasing pressure