Polish Giant Budimex Conquers the Czech Market: The D35 Motorway Section Construction Has Started

The Polish construction company Budimex, which openly declares that it wants to be involved in the construction of the Czech High-Speed Rail (HSR), has started the construction of the D35 motorway section from Džbánov to Litomyšl. The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the 7.6 km long route took place this afternoon. RAILTARGET was there.

The Polish construction company Budimex officially starts the construction of the D35 motorway section from Džbánov to Litomyšl. The ceremonial laying of the foundation stone of the 7.6 km long route took place near the village of Hrušová in the presence of Transport Minister Martin Kupka. The investment is worth EUR 135.1 million. The construction should be completed by 2027.

After more than two years in the Czech market, Budimex is starting to build the first kilometers of domestic motorways. Last month, the largest Polish company in the industry signed a contract for the construction of a 7.6-kilometer section of the D35 from Džbánov to Litomyšl. The construction was inaugurated in the presence of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Transport Minister Martin Kupka, and Radek Mátl, Director General of the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic.

"We are embarking on our first motorway project in the Czech Republic with great enthusiasm and determination. We are very grateful for the trust we have received and we look forward to sharing the experience that we have accumulated over 55 years of Budimex Group activity," says Cezary Łysenko, a member of the Board of Directors of Budimex.

The construction of the D35 motorway section between Džbánov and Litomyšl starts after the Džbánov off-ramp, where it connects to the previous section of this motorway Vysoké Mýto - Džbánov. It then passes through scattered housing south of the existing I/35 road, runs along the northwest side of Litomyšl, and connects to the Litomyšl - Janov section.

As part of the work, Budimex will build the main road section of 7,589 meters and 147 structures, including nine bridges with a total length of 1,137 meters. The project also includes several viaducts, flyovers, and 6.3 kilometers of noise barriers. Some 16 kilometers of local roads will also be reconstructed. The company will also address conflicts with existing underground and overhead infrastructure.

"The D35 motorway construction project is our first step towards a permanent presence on the Czech market. The project will be implemented by a team of experienced experts, consisting of both Czechs and Poles," says Krzysztof Sokołowski, Budimex's director for the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The D35 section between Džbánov and Litomyšl is the second contract Budimex has won on the Czech market. In December 2023, the company signed a contract for the construction of a flood control polder in Kutrin in the Chrudim region.

In addition to the Czech Republic, the Polish general contractor has recently significantly accelerated its expansion into other foreign markets. It has successfully completed contracts in Germany, Slovakia, and the Baltic States. In December 2023, the company signed its first contract in Latvia, where, as part of an international consortium, it will build a 230-kilometer section of the Rail Baltica high-speed railway line worth over EUR 3.5 million.

"We are currently implementing over 80 infrastructure projects in Central and Western Europe. Our ambition is to develop into an international multidisciplinary group, focused on providing services in construction, energy, and other key sectors," concludes Cezary Łysenko.