The partnership between De Werkvennootschap (Flemish government) and the BRAVO4 consortium for the R4WO project is official. Today, 7 May 2024, the signing took place of the contract documents with which the Flemish government, through De Werkvennootschap, start the collaboration with BRAVO4 for the conversion of the R4 West and East in the north of Ghent. BRAVO4 is made up of BESIX, EPICo, I4B – The Belgian Infrastructure Fund, RID PPP (Rebel and Abrdn) and Stadsbader. The Flemish government approved the proposed award decision including the DBFM agreement between the two parties on 22 March. As of now, BRAVO4 is in charge of the conversion of the R4 West and East in the north of Ghent through a DBFM, which includes the design, construction, financing and maintenance for 30 years.
Creating a safer port area together
De Werkvennootschap (i.e. 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 West and East conversion in 2024. This Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is different from a traditional tender. The consortium is financing the project itself and will receive an availability fee from the Flemish government for 30 years when construction is completed. This allows the government to select a party based on more qualitative criteria, such as design ownership, execution techniques, life cycle approach, mitigation measures and environmental management.
Partnership with BRAVO4
In the summer of 2021, the BRAVO4 consortium was chosen 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 since obtained final and executable environmental permits for those refined plans, so 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. On 7 May, all contracts were signed and the financing was concluded.
The consortium will start preparatory works and some quick interventions this month. 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.
Vision for the project
The new R4 will connect environment, people and nature. The project will result in smoother and safer traffic on the R4 and make surrounding neighbourhoods quieter and more accessible. On the western side, the project entails the section between the N9 in Wondelgem and the E34 in Zelzate, and on the eastern side between the 'Eurosilo' junction in Oostakker and 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 (about €715 million, excluding VAT) in liveability on and around the R4. 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 a smoother traffic flow and a smaller chance of dangerous situations between road users. It will also connect residential areas on either side of the R4 in a way that is 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.
Comment from Stijn Quaghebeur, chairman of De Werkvennootschap’s Executive Board: “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. Together with BRAVO4, we will manage the communication with all stakeholders.
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.”
With its track record in successfully delivering complex DBFM, BOOT and PPP projects in Europe and the Middle East, BESIX is the ideal partner in this complex endeavour, even more so since it can leverage its one-stop-shop approach that integrates the diverse capabilities of BESIX Invest (investment), BESIX Construction (civil engineering), BESIX Infra (road infrastructure, utilities), and BESIX Unitec (electromechanical equipment, tunnel installations).
About De Werkvennootschap
De Werkvennootschap was set up by the Flemish government to manage large and complex infrastructure projects. Besides carrying out a lot of quick-win projects, it also deals with major mobility issues such as the Ring around Brussels, the North-South connection in Limburg and the tram (bus) lines of the Brabantnet and Spartacusnet.
This is the first Contract Close for De Werkvennootschap, after the relaunch of VIA-INVEST, which realised the R4 South and the A11 as a PPP, among other things. De Werkvennootschap also assisted De Vlaamse Waterweg in the PPP expertise for the raising of the bridges over the Albert Canal.
www.dewerkvennootschap.vlaanderen
About BESIX
BESIX is a leading Belgian group, based in Brussels and active in 25 countries and 5 continents, in the construction, real estate development and concessions sectors. BESIX Group has been active since 1909 and its iconic realisations include the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the tallest tower in the world, European Parliament buildings in Brussels and numerous maritime facilities and infrastructure works. The Group's engineering division enables BESIX to carry out complex and unique projects, especially in terms of technical and environmental aspects.
www.besix.com
About EPICo
Infrastructure fund EPICo actively invests in infrastructure. It has extensive experience in Europe in public-private partnerships (PPP), energy transition, digital transformation, sustainable mobility and circular economy.
www.epicofund.eu/epico
About I4B – The Belgian Infrastructure Fund
I4B develops and invests in Belgian infrastructure to promote mobility, energy transition, digital transition and social inclusion. I4B aims for a fund size of around €400 million, investing these funds in infrastructure projects that meet its high ESG standards.
With a capital of more than EUR 270 million invested by the Federal Participation and Investment Company (SFPI-FPIM), AG Insurance and Synatom, among others, and a target size of EUR 400 million, I4B aims to invest with key industrial partners in infrastructure located in Belgium or Europe.
www.infra4be.com
About RID PPP
RID PPP is a collaboration of Rebel and Abrdn set up following the investment in the R4WO project.
Rebel is a financial and economic consultancy and investor at the interface between the public and private sectors. Rebel aims to maximise its social impact through consulting and investment. Under the motto ‘No change without a Rebel’, some 300 Rebels work daily to make the world a better place.
Abrdn is a leading global investment company with combined assets under management of more than €600 billion and highly diversified activities. Abrdn is listed on the London Stock Exchange. The investment in the project comes from ASEIP IV, Abrdn Concession Infrastructure's fourth pan-European infrastructure fund. The fund invests in social, transport, telecommunications and environmental infrastructure. The abrdn Concession Infrastructure team consists of 35 people managing a portfolio of assets in Europe, North and Latin America and Australasia.
www.rebelgroup.com and www.abrdn.com
About Stadsbader
Stadsbader Group, a Belgian family-owned company, runs its daily operations at some 250 construction sites in Belgium and surrounding countries. Driven by passion and with a keen eye for sustainability, our 1,850 enterprising colleagues are joining their forces. Our expertise in construction, infrastructure, engineering and civil works was brought together in four large companies that combine to realise multidisciplinary projects. Stadsbader offers private and public customers a centrally coordinated overall project. Quality, innovation, sustainability and safety are always at the forefront. The strong vertical integration also ensures fast and quality execution.
www.stadsbader.com