French freeway construction and operation group Eiffage reported a 4.9% rise in first-quarter sales on Tuesday, buoyed by the performance of its infrastructure and energy systems businesses.

Sales came to 5.19 billion euros, compared with 4.95 billion euros in the same quarter of 2023.

As at March 31, 2024, the company posted a works order book of 27.8 billion euros, up 40% year-on-year.

Infrastructure and energy systems sales rose by 7.7% and 6.1% respectively, while construction fell by 13.8% due to an overall decline linked to "the new housing crisis in Europe", Eiffage said in a statement.

Eiffage is participating in the development of the athletes' village for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games in July and August, in the towns of Saint-Ouen, Saint-Denis and L'Ile-Saint-Denis, where some 6,000 people will live after the Games.

The company confirmed its outlook for the year.

(Stéphanie Hamel and Camilla Borri report; Leo Marchandon, edited by Kate Entringer)