Mecsek Autopalya, a consortium led by Strabag, scooped a HUF266.1 billion (EUR1,048 million) contract in a tender to build and operate a new section of motorway M6. Other members of the consortium are French firms Bouygues Travaux Publics and Colas, as well as John Laing Infrastructure of the UK and Hungary's Intertoll Europe. Strabag's share amounts to EUR460 million. The tender refers to a total 78 km motorway section, including the section of the M6 northsouth-bound motorway between Szekszard and Boly, as well as the M60 motorway branching off from Boly to connect with the city of Pecs. The contract value includes the building, financing, maintenance and operation of the motorway for a 30-year period, with the project to take the form of a public-private partnership (PPP). The M6 motorway currently runs from Budapest to Dunaujvaros. It is part of the trans-European corridor Vc that links Budapest to Sarajevo. The section includes four tunnels (1,331 m, 399 m, 865 m and 418 m). Construction officially started in November for completion in spring 2010. Visit www.strabag.com, www.bouygues-construction.com, www.laing.com and www.intertoll.eu 52/07-01/08.