The GelreGroent Joint venture led by Hochtief and BESIX,alongside Dutch contractors Dura Vermeer and Van Oord, and infrastructure investor John Laing, has signed a €1.2 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract with Rijkswaterstaat to deliver the ViA15 motorway project in the Netherlands.
Delivered under a DBFM (Design, Build, Finance, Maintain) PPP model, the project will close a long-missing link in the Dutch highway network, connecting the A15 with the A12 near the German border. The contract includes a 20-year maintenance period following construction, with works expected to begin in early 2026 and completion scheduled for 2031.
ViA15 - Project Overview
The ViA15 project is designed to improve east-west connectivity in the eastern Netherlands by extending the A15 motorway by 12 kilometres and widening approximately 23 kilometres of the A12 and A15 near Arnhem and Zevenaar. The upgraded corridor will improve freight access from the Port of Rotterdam to Germany while relieving congestion in one of the country’s most heavily trafficked regions.
A key element of the project is the construction of a new 2.5 km bridge over the Pannerdensch Canal. The bridge, which will feature a separate lane for cyclists and pedestrians as well as a central viewing platform, is intended to become a new regional landmark.
In total, the ViA15 project includes the construction of 45 bridges and viaducts, 10 interchanges, noise barriers, and extensive upgrades to road drainage and access infrastructure.
Contract Details and Background
Rijkswaterstaat has reached commercial close for the ViA15 project as a DBFM contract, requiring the GelreGroen consortium to design, build, finance, and maintain the infrastructure for a period of 20 years after completion. This approach supports whole-of-life thinking, encourages early contractor involvement, and transfers performance and availability risk to the private sector.
Under this PPP structure, it is understood that the consortium will receive availability-based payments over the maintenance term, incentivising high asset performance and efficient long-term maintenance strategies. A financial close was achieved following final planning approvals in mid-2024.
The ViA15 contract is part of the Dutch government’s broader strategy to procure major road projects using integrated delivery models that drive collaboration, innovation, and better value-for-money outcomes for public infrastructure.
The original contract
The contract for the ViA15 project was originally awarded to the GelreGroen consortium in 2020. However, legal appeals brought before the Dutch Council of State delayed implementation, leaving the project without a valid legal basis to proceed.
Following the Council’s final and irrevocable approval in October 2024, Rijkswaterstaat and GelreGroen resumed structured negotiations to advance the project.
Martin Wijnen, Director-General of Rijkswaterstaat, commented: “We’re pleased that after a long period of waiting and uncertainty, we can now begin construction on the new A15 section and the widening of the A12 and A15. Since the Council of State’s final ruling, we’ve had constructive and solution-oriented talks with GelreGroen. We look forward to a strong collaboration in the years ahead.”
The GelreGroen consortium
The GelreGroen consortium combines construction, finance, and infrastructure maintenance expertise from both Dutch and international partners. The ownership structure of the joint venture is as follows:
HOCHTIEF – 40%
John Laing – 40%
Dura Vermeer – 10%
BESIX – 10%
While John Laing serves as the financial investor, the delivery of the DBFM obligations — including design and construction (D&C Contract), and long-term maintenance — will be carried out by four delivery partners, each holding an equal share:
HOCHTIEF – 25%
Dura Vermeer – 25%
BESIX – 25%
Van Oord – 25%
This structure separates the financial and operational roles within the consortium. John Laing contributes equity and PPP investment expertise, while the four delivery contractors bring technical capacity and operational execution.
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