The following announcement was recently made on the National Roads Authority website:

NRA PPP Roads Programme
Limerick Tunnel PPP Scheme
Notice Regarding Tendering Outcome

13th September 2005

The National Roads Authority, having carefully considered the proposals received from the four shortlisted Tenderers, has identified the Direct Route Consortium, comprising Kellogg Brown & Root Limited, Strabag AG, John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Limited, Lagan Holdings Limited and Roadbridge Limited, as the Tenderer with the most economically advantageous Tender. The second placed Tenderer is the Cumann Luais Chuar Bhothair Luimnigh/Limerick Express ByPass Consortium ("CLCBL") comprising Bouygues Travaux Publics, DTP Terrassement, and Egis Projects.

The Authority will now proceed with discussions with Direct Route with a view to appointing it as the Provisional Preferred Tenderer. If such discussions prove successful and Direct Route are appointed Provisional Preferred Tender, that will potentially lead to an award of the Contract for the Project in Spring 2006. However, if such discussions terminate, the Authority has the right to revert to Best and Final Offer stage with both Direct Route and the CLCBL consortium.

The other unsuccessful Tenderers were ShannonLink, comprising HBG Ascon Limited, PJ Hegarty & Sons, NTR Plc, Vinci Concessions S.A. and Vinci S.A. and Slí Nua, comprising Laing O'Rourke Civil Engineering Limited, Laing Roads Limited, Hochtief Developments AG and Intertoll (Pty) Limited.