Constrained by social distancing due to the coronavirus, Norwegian officials are embarking on complicated long-distance negotiations with international companies for the country’s largest-ever highway contract—a public-private partnership to finance, design, build and operate the Rv. 555 for 25 years.
With prequalified bidders from Spain, Italy, France, South Korea and Switzerland, language and cultural differences will further complicate procurement of the $1-billion Rv. 555 highway between Storavatnet and Kolltveit west of Bergen.