According to the latest information, Austrians, Chinese and an Italian-Turkish group are bidding for the construction of the Peljesac Bridge in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

In the restricted procedure of public procurement, Strabag from Austria, Astaldi and the Turkish Ictas as well as the Chinese company China Road Bridge Corporation (CRBC) with partners have submitted their offers in the second-round tender.

The criterion for the selection of a bidder, according to the new Public Procurement Act, is the most economically advantageous offer. The Croatian client Hrvatske ceste (Croatian roads) estimated the value of construction works at 1,756 billion Kunas excluding VAT; however, so far the bids (without VAT) exceeded this amount.  The Italian construction group Astaldi with its Turkish partner offered 2,551 billion Kunas (344,799 million Euros) for the bridge construction, the Strabag company from Austria offered 2,622 billion Kunas (354,440 million Euros), whilst the Chinese company CRBC offered the amount of 2,08 billion Kunas or 281,298 million Euros for the bridge construction.

After the evaluation of the bids in accordance with Croatia's Public Procurement Act, the competent Commission that includes representatives of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Transport and Infrastructure, and the Croatian Roads company will reach the decision on the selection of the most competitive bidder.

The value of the construction of the Peljesac bridge is estimated at 422 million Euros, whilst the EU will contribute 85 percent of the cost. The bridge will significantly improve the everyday life of Croatians, through reducing the travel time between Dubrovnik and Split. It will also greatly benefit tourism, trade and will reinforce the territorial cohesion of the South Dalmatia region with the other part of the country.

The Peljesac Bridge will connect the Dubrovnik–Neretva County to the rest of the country, by crossing the Mali Ston Bay over the Adriatic Sea. This will enable an undisturbed flow of goods and people, especially during the high tourist season.

In addition, the bridge will be 55 metres high and 2,4 kilometres long, with four lanes. The EU is also funding supporting infrastructure, such as the construction of access roads, including tunnels, bridges and viaducts, the building of an 8km-long bypass near the town of Ston and upgrading works on the existing road D414.

The bridge is expected to be opened in 2022.