Skip to main content

IRF launches global road diagnostic initiative

Transportation decision-makers will soon benefit from a new comparative study on the cost-effectiveness of road programme delivery. This will be thanks to the launch of a global benchmarking initiative by the International Road Federation using a methodology developed by McKinsey & Co. Globally, US$1.4 trillion is invested every year on transportation assets — including $700 billion for roads - as the world’s economies develop and respond to emerging mobility patterns. Delivering these road programmes
March 8, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
The IRF Global Road Benchmarking Survey was launched in Riyadh on December 15th 2015 as part of the 4th IRF Middle East Regional Congress
RSSTransportation decision-makers will soon benefit from a new comparative study on the cost-effectiveness of road programme delivery. This will be thanks to the launch of a global benchmarking initiative by the International Road Federation using a methodology developed by McKinsey & Co.  

Globally, US$1.4 trillion is invested every year on transportation assets — including $700 billion for roads - as the world’s economies develop and respond to emerging mobility patterns. Delivering these road programmes is a task fraught with challenges which too often lead to inefficient use of scarce funds.

In 2013, a landmark report published by McKinsey’s Infrastructure Practice presented stark evidence of the size of the infrastructure gap and the resulting need for governments to rethink how they select, design, deliver and manage infrastructure projects.

Building on the methodology developed in this report, the International Road Federation is announcing a global benchmarking initiative to promote transparency through an objective diagnosis and evaluation of current practices worldwide.

According to Nicklas Garemo, senior partner at McKinsey, "There are large opportunities to improve efficiency in road investments and maintenance across the globe which would give the world more and better roads for the available funds. The first step to improve requires understanding where you stand and how you compare to best practice. This survey creates that understanding and allows countries to be more targeted in their future improvement efforts."

“As the sector’s chief knowledge broker, the 3918 IRF Washington knows that boosting productivity is a key priority for all local and national governments,” said IRF president & CEO C Patrick Sankey. “The survey and resulting recommendations will provide game-changing insights for decision-makers across our industry.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Safer roads around the world
    January 3, 2025
    Safer roads around the world are the aim of iRAP.
  • Success of toll road operators' conference
    July 12, 2012
    The 37th ASECAP Annual Study and Information Days held in Krakow, Poland, gathered some 300 road transport CEOs, experts and government decision-makers making the event "a huge success." Patrick Smith reports Toll road operators from across Europe have met to discuss the state of their businesses in the current economic climate and how to tackle it. Fabrizio Palenzona, the outgoing President of ASECAP (the European professional Association of Operators of Toll Road Infrastructures) and president of AISCAT (
  • Cutting African road deaths with better safety measures
    March 16, 2020
    Using better safety measures will help cutting African road deaths.
  • Global Road Achievement Awards
    July 10, 2012
    IRF now accepting submissions for 2009 edition of Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA). IRF has officially opened the 2009 GRAA Competition. Started in 2000, this worldwide programme honours and recognises road projects throughout the world that demonstrate excellence and innovation. Since IRF began this annual competition, more than 70 projects from two dozen countries have been recognised for their contributions to the advancement of road development worldwide.