Skip to main content

Strabag refinances Ireland’s N17/N18 project between Gort and Tuam

The European-based technology group for construction services, Strabag, has initiated and led the first successful refinancing of an Irish motorway public-private partnership (PPP) project. In a written statement, Strabag said that the N17/N18 project between Gort and Tuam “is benefiting from improved financial market conditions while still in the construction phase”. Refinancing was successfully achieved on 27 May. Total private sector investment in this project amounts to €400 million. Strabag said
June 2, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The European-based technology group for construction services, 945 Strabag, has initiated and led the first successful refinancing of an Irish motorway public-private partnership (PPP) project.

In a written statement, Strabag said that the N17/N18 project between Gort and Tuam “is benefiting from improved financial market conditions while still in the construction phase”.

Refinancing was successfully achieved on 27 May. Total private sector investment in this project amounts to €400 million. Strabag said that it has a stake in both the concession company DirectRoute (10%) – alongside the Marguerite Fund, John Sisk and Son (Holdings), 2340 Lagan Projects Investments, 5487 Roadbridge and HICL Infrastructure – as well as the construction consortium (25%).

Constsruction started following the financial close at the end of April 2014 and the motorway is to open to traffic in November next year. This will mark the start of the 25-year operation period for this section.

Last year the project was awarded the distinction of European PPP Deal of the Year by industry journal Project Finance International (PFI).
 
This section of the N17/N18 motorway is not the first PPP concession project for Strabag in Ireland: Together with the DirectRoute consortium, the company has completed the Limerick Tunnel and Fermoy PPP projects.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Ireland's highway and tunnel projects
    May 10, 2012
    Northern Ireland construction company, Lagan Construction, is celebrating its part in two major infrastructure projects in Ireland. The company said that the openings of the A1 dual carriageway bypass at Newry, Northern Ireland, and the Limerick Tunnel, Republic of Ireland, were major achievements, and had employed 350 people over the past four years. The €138 million Newry bypass, commissioned by the Roads Service in December 2007 and completed five months ahead of schedule, was delivered by Amey Lagan
  • EIB backing Irish motorway link
    April 30, 2014
    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is providing financial backing worth €144 million for the new M17/M18 Gort-Tuam motorway project. The M17/M18 Gort to Tuam PPP Scheme is situated in the west of Ireland and will be constructed as a four lane motorway that will replace the existing N17/N18 roads. This new motorway will reduce journey times by around 20 minutes and has an overall cost estimated at €550 million. Construction work will start during this year and this is the second transport PPP to be signed un
  • Ireland plans stimulus arrangement
    December 17, 2012
    A stimulus package worth over €2 billion is being planned by the Irish Government. This will be used to fund infrastructure projects in the country, including major roads in Wexford and Galway. The package comprises funds from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) and the sale of State assets as well as from the public-private partnerships (PPPs). The N11/25 Enniscorthy and New Ross bypasses, and the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam scheme are set to gain also from PPP funding. I
  • New road plans for Ireland
    July 25, 2012
    A stimulus package worth over €2 billion is being planned by the Irish Government. This will be used to fund infrastructure projects in the country, including major roads in Wexford and Galway. The package comprises funds from the European Investment Bank (EIB), the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) and the sale of State assets as well as from the public-private partnerships (PPPs). The N11/25 Enniscorthy and New Ross bypasses, and the N17/N18 Gort to Tuam scheme are set to gain also from funding from P