AECOM oversees Russian road

US-based technical and management services group AECOM has won a contract for the public-private partnership (PPP) concession for the Moscow to St Petersburg M11 Highway project in Russia.

The contract has been awarded by the North-West Concession Company (NWCC), which comprises the French company Vinci Concessions and private Russian investors.

Under the contract, AECOM is named technical expert, and it will monitor the compliance of the project to the approved parameters and report both to the grantor -state company Avtodor - and the concessionaire - NWCC.

In particular, the company will provide design-review and construction-supervision services for the program. The highway project encompasses design, finance, construction and operation of the 44km first section of the new M11 toll road motorway from Moscow to St Petersburg.

It is planned to take the pressure off the M10 Highway, which is one of the busiest in Russia. The new highway will provide an alternative route from Moscow to St Petersburg, as well as Sheremetyevo International Airport just outside Moscow, and cities close to the capital.

The opening of the first section of the highway is expected to take place within three years, and construction has already started.