8 May 2024

Contract Close for the Public-Private Partnership R4 West and East in the north of Ghent between De Werkvennootschap and BRAVO4

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The collaboration between De Werkvennootschap (Flemish government) and the BRAVO4 consortium for the R4WO project is official. On 7 May 2024, the contract documents were signed whereby the Flemish government, through De Werkvennootschap, starts the collaboration with BRAVO4, which includes BESIX, EPICo, I4B – The Belgian Infrastructure Fund, RID PPP (Rebel and Abrdn ) and Stadsbader for the conversion of the R4 East and West in the north of Ghent. On 22 March 2024, the Flemish Government approved the proposed award decision, including the DBFM agreement between the two parties. As of now, BRAVO4 is in charge of the conversion of the R4 East and West north of Ghent through a DBFM: the design (Design), construction (Build), financing (Finance) and maintenance for 30 years (Maintain) are entrusted to BRAVO4 in an integrated manner.

Creating a safer port area together

The Werkvennootschap (the Flemish government organisation that supports large and complex mobility projects) and BRAVO4 (the consortium chosen to realise the project) will start the actual works for the R4 East and West conversion in 2024. This Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is different from a traditional tender. The consortium is financing the project itself and will receive a periodic availability fee from the Flemish government for thirty years after the construction phase. This allows the government to select a party based on more qualitative criteria, such as design ownership, execution techniques, life cycle approach, mitigating measures and environmental management. The private market is also fully engaged to contribute its expertise to this project.

Partnership with BRAVO4

In the summer of 2021, the BRAVO4 consortium was named as the preferred bidder. They submitted the best value for money bid to carry out the DBFM contract. In 2022, BRAVO4 refined the basic designs. BRAVO4 has now obtained final and executable environmental permits for these refined plans, so that the DBFM contract was recently awarded and the DBFM agreement could now be concluded, together with the financing agreements (contract close and financial close). The financing was put together through a Debt Funding Competition. A syndicate of Belgian and international banks and insurers are financing the project.
The consortium will start this month with preparatory works and some quick interventions. In August 2025, larger work will commence on the 22 intervention points and junctions along the R4. For a smooth proceeding of the various works, preparatory (utility) works have already started. The entire conversion will be completed by early 2031.

Environmental partnership

''This project would never have been possible without the close cooperation of all entities, companies and local residents. De Werkvennootschap would therefore like to express its thanks to all the people in the region, as well as the City of Ghent, the municipalities of Evergem and Wachtebeke, the Flemish agencies MOW, DVW and AWV, Tuc-rail and Infrabel, the province of East Flanders, the utility companies and network operators Farys, Synductis, Fluxys, Fluvius, De Watergroep, Elia, Proximus and of course North Sea Port. Finally, a word of thanks to all the advisors/advisory agencies on both sides'' says Marijn Struyf, spokesperson for De Werkvennootschap.

Vision for the project

The new R4 will connect the environment, people and nature. The project will make traffic on the R4 smoother and safer, and the surrounding neighbourhoods quieter and more accessible. On the western side, it concerns the section of the R4 between the N9 in Wondelgem and the E34 in Zelzate, and on the eastern side from the 'Eurosilo' junction in Oostakker to Wachtebeke. With this conversion, the Flemish government is investing in smoother and safer road traffic WITH liveable residential areas and safe and comfortable cycle paths.

It is a major investment (€ 726 million, excluding VAT) in liveability on and around the R4. In the future, the number of slip roads will be reduced and motorised traffic will drive to the main intersections. New bridges, tunnels and underpasses will allow local traffic to pass under or over the R4. This ensures smoother traffic flow and less chance of dangerous situations between road users. It will also make the connection between residential areas on either side of the R4 a lot safer.

The bridges and underpasses will become part of the public space for many years. A beautiful and functional design that blends into its surroundings was therefore chosen.

Flemish ministers for Budget and Mobility and Public Works reacted with satisfaction: ''This is a major milestone for us as the Flemish Government, this Public-Private Partnership will drastically improve the quality of life and mobility in the Ghent port area. It is the second largest construction site in Flanders, we would like to come together on 27/5 to actually kick off the construction site, but De Werkvennootschap and BRAVO4 signed the 'Contract Close' today. The deal has therefore been concluded with the private partner, representing an investment of approximately € 720 million (excluding VAT) according to a DBFM formula.''

Comment from Stijn Quaghebeur, chairman of De Werkvennootschap’s Executive Board: “We are proud that we are currently at the start of the largest DBFM project in Belgium. We are proud to launch Belgium's largest DBFM project. We are confident that, together with BRAVO4, we will deliver a success story for the R4 West and East.  We are happy that we are now on the brink of starting the conversion works. For port operators, residents, traffic and the wider environment, this conversion will make a big, positive difference, for motorised traffic, but certainly also for cyclists. With our investments for bicycle traffic, this project involves the realisation of two 15-kilometre-long stretches of uninterrupted cycling infrastructure along and across the R4. This will not happen overnight, of course. We will guide all stakeholders through the works, which will last until early 2031. This is the second largest construction site in Flanders.''

Comment from Günther Muyshondt, BRAVO4 Project Director: “BESIX, EPICo, I4B – The Belgian Infrastructure Fund, RRID PPP and Stadsbader are proud to launch this project together with De Werkvennootschap. R4WO stands for connection: by ensuring safe traffic, we connect neighbourhoods, communities, people and nature. As a consortium, we are putting our full weight behind this vision. There will be intense work in the coming years, but the result will be a safer, more easily accessible and more sustainable R4 environment.”