The Austrian construction company Alpine, a subsidiary of FCC, has signed a contract to build Markovec Tunnel in Slovenia. The 2.1-kilometre-long tunnel belongs to the coastal motorway. Alpine and its Slovenian partner were chosen for the contract in June, although the contract was only signed with DARS, the state road authorities, on Wednesday last.

The contract is worth 64.5 million euro, and the completion period is 32 months long. Works are scheduled to start in early 2010.

The contracting process underwent some delay due to a tender review request submitted by a consortium of two Slovenian construction firms.