The council of ministers approved the draft annex to the contract for Trakia Motorway and authorised the regional minister to sign a final concession agreement with the designated public-private consortium. The act will transfer most of the risks to the concessionaire, where 51% of the equity capital is held by three private investors from Portugal (MSF Moniz Da Maia, Serraand Fortunato; Lena Engenhariae Construcoes; and Somague Consessoerrise Servicos). Construction works for completing and rehabilitation of the 443-kilometre motorway are expected to start by end-June. Another approval of the concession contract by the cabinet will be pending right after Eurostat takes a stance on potential state aid effects on the general government budget. The 35-year concession project covers investments for rehabilitation of existing motorway sections, building new sections, road maintenance, and toll collection. New construction works will cover around 50% of the route and should be completed in about 3 years. Investments in new construction are valued at EUR 590mn at an average cost of EUR 2.7mn per kilometre of newly built motorway sections.