Skip to main content

Eiffage set to be concessionaire for France’s RCEA project

France’s Transport Ministry has chosen construction and concessions group Eiffage as the single prospective concessionaire for the project to complete the Route Centre-Europe Atlantique. The east-west RCEA is considered to be one of the most dangerous routes in France, according to government statistics. Some sections of the route, also called the Route Nationale 79, has been upgraded into a four-lane motorway over the past several decades. The plan is make the remaining two-lane sections into four-lanes
June 17, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
France’s Transport Ministry has chosen construction and concessions group 5871 Eiffage as the single prospective concessionaire for the project to complete the Route Centre-Europe Atlantique.


The east-west RCEA is considered to be one of the most dangerous routes in France, according to government statistics. Some sections of the route, also called the Route Nationale 79, has been upgraded into a four-lane motorway over the past several decades. The plan is make the remaining two-lane sections into four-lanes.

French media reported that negotiations will now begin to finalise the project that could cost as much as €600 million, according to an estimate made last year by Benoît de Ruffray, chief executive of Eiffage.

The concession – which will not be bolstered with any public money – must include the provision for  clean vehicles and the deployment of electric vehicle charging equipment.

The project must be finalised by France’s transport regulator ARAFER and then given the go-ahead by the State Council, likely by the end of the year.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Moldova gets EBRD loan for M1, M2 upgrades
    August 28, 2023
    The work will enhance transport connectivity by strengthening core transport links with a focus on the pan-European TEN-T network.
  • China's economic growth fuelling vehicle increase
    February 21, 2012
    China is at a turning point in many ways. The country's continuing economic growth is fuelling a massive increase in vehicle numbers, with no signs of slackening. This is most acute and most visible in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, where traffic jams are now a frequent occurrence
  • China's economic growth fuelling vehicle increase
    March 14, 2012
    China is at a turning point in many ways. The country's continuing economic growth is fuelling a massive increase in vehicle numbers, with no signs of slackening. This is most acute and most visible in major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, where traffic jams are now a frequent occurrence. One recent Beijing tailback stretched nearly 100km along a major highway and was caused by roadworks at a particularly busy stretch of the road.
  • Highway deals for three Indian states
    April 24, 2012
    The authorities in India have given the go-ahead for a series of highway projects in the states of Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Rajasthan. These will be worth US$693.5 million and are being planned under the design, build, operate, finance and transfer (DBOFT) model. The National Highways Development Project (NHDP) will see upgrades to the Madurai-Ramanathapuram route in Tamil Nadu, the Chandikhole-Dubari-Talcher road in Orissa to four-lane section and a 79km section of the Gomati Chauraha-Udaipur road in Rajasth