In 1999, Aecon was a part of a special purpose concession company, Derech Eretz Highways (1997) Limited (DEC) which entered into a contract with the State of Israel for the financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the $1.2 billion Cross Israel Highway, under a 30-year concession agreement.
Project scope included 103km of new highway, 100km of agricultural service roads, interchanges and bridges, a 400m twin-barrel tunnel, and the erection of an electronic tolling system. In 2007, DEC entered into an agreement with the State to construct, finance and operate Section 18 of the project – a 17km extension to the north.