Finance & Funding

Major upgrades are being planned to Colombia’s road network. A report produced by Colombia's national road institute (Invias) has revealed that just 13.6% of the country’s 7,019km key road network is in very good condition. Of concern is that 17.7% of Colombia’s key road network is in poor condition, with 0.86% in very poor state. Around 33.6% is in good condition and 34.3% is in average condition. The report reveals that Colombia’s Cordoba Department has the worst roads, followed by Ocana Department. Me

Israel’s National Transport Infrastructure Company (Netivei Israel) is launching 23 tenders for transportation projects during 2019. The projects will be worth a total of US$1.52 billion in all. Netivei Israel says that a key focus is on urban traffic congestion, a chronic problem in the country’s major cities. Increased road capacity, new routes and improved public transport are all intended to reduce delays for the country’s commuters. New lanes will be built for buses only on some major routes, with the

A new report from Germany’s federal transport ministry has highlighted the problem of bridge wear in the country. According to the report, just 13% of Germany’s road bridges and bridge sub-structures are in good or very good condition. The report evaluated the condition of 39,600 road bridges and 51,600 bridge sub-structures and in 12% of cases, these structures do not have sufficient load-bearing capacity for the stresses they have to cope with. The report highlights also the worsening condition of the bri

Concern is being expressed in Australia over the cost of the new highway connecting Sydney International Airport with the city. The M12 highway project was originally expected to cost US$881.65 million (A$1.25 million). However some reports suggest that the work may now cost as much as $973.34 million (A$1.38 billion). New solutions are being sought in a bid to reduce the cost of the project. Additional financing solutions are also being looked into for the work, including revised tolling options.

Renovation and widening of the A1 motorway in the Netherlands will start this month, according to the Dutch environment and infrastructure agency Rijkswaterstaat. The section covers 65km, between Apeldoorn and junction Azelo. Work is expected to take around 10 years and cost about €400 million. The A1 – 199km long - connects the capital city Amsterdam, near the interchange of Watergraafsmeer, with the German border near Oldenzaal and Bad Bentheim, and the German Autobahn BAB 30. On its way, it crosses

Interest is strong in the project to complete Colombia’s key tunnel construction contract. In all 23 firms have shown interest in the package of works to complete the La Linea tunnel project, according to the Colombian national road institute (Invias). The Colombian Government is providing US$204.5 million to complete the project. The current target is for the tunnel to be completed by 2020, although the link was originally supposed to be ready for traffic in late 2016. Construction work on the link commenc

Several major road projects are underway in Paraguay at present, though issues are afflicting some. Although the Rute del Este consortium comprising Sacyr, Mota Engil and Ocho A was awarded the PPP contract to upgrade Ruta 2 and Ruta 7, the necessary funding has yet to be delivered. The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) and the US Bank have both said that they would give the necessary funding. A new deadline has been set for the funds to be delivered at the end of March 2019. Meanwhile there are also d

Puerto Rico is setting out plans for its road repair programme, which is intended to upgrade links right across the island.

A new highway is to be built in North Korea, connecting Hamhung with Wonsan. The 112km highway project is being split into five sections for the tender process, which is being handled by a Chinese firm. Funding is being supplied by China for the project. Construction is expected to start in the second quarter of 2019, with the completion date set for the second quarter of 2022. The project does face a number of challenges however, not the least of which is how equipment will be provided for the work give th

Hlidac Statu, the Czech government spending watchdog, criticised the slow pace of motorway construction, saying it lags behind other EU states in the eastern region. But Czech prime minister Andrej Babis hit back, saying that his government has overseen an unprecedented level of motorway construction and investment. Radio Praha reported that Michal Bláha, founder of the watchdog, said data from Eurostat shows that only 300km of new motorway has been built in the Czech republic since 2000. Eurostat, ba