The government and Salini Impregilo agreed to terminate their contract

The government and Salini Impregilo of Italy agreed to terminate their contract on building the highway between Žilina and Martin, including the Višňové tunnel. The company says it can’t build the highway for the agreed price of €410m and has demanded additional €100m (the state expected a price of €900m and Skanska offered to build it for €338m; Skanska’s bid was thrown out). The termination was okayed by the European Commission on February 20. More EU funds will be allocated for the highway if a new supplier is selected in a tender. The new tender, though, will delay its construction and the Ministry now hopes to complete the highway by 2023. The state will claim contractual fines of €6m from the Italian company and set up a special committee to decide how much to pay for the work already undertaken.

(Pravda/8)