Finance & Funding

Preparation work for the improvement of the road connecting Uganda with Tanzania is being provided by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Funding worth US$1.5 million is being given by the AfDB to pay for the preparation work. The new road will connect Masaka in Uganda with Kagera in Tanzania and forms part of a programme to improve connections across East Africa. The road project is being carried out in three separate sections. One stretch measures 133km and runs from Kumunazi, through Bugene to Kasulo in

A loan of US$100 million will help pay for road improvements in Swaziland. The loan will be used to improve up to 200km of unsealed roads. Chemical stabilisers from Malaysian firm Probase will be acquired to help boost road quality and to reduce problems caused by seasonal weather conditions. Stabiliser compounds can prevent unsealed roads from becoming excessively muddy during the rainy season. The Swaziland Finance Ministry was given government approval to request the loan, which has a 15 year repayment

A degree of confusion now surrounds a proposed road project for New Zealand worth US$1.32 billion. The proposal was for a four lane road link to connect State Highway 20 with State Highway 1, close to Mount Wellington on the southern side of Auckland. The project called for upgrades to an existing road as well as the construction of new pedestrian and cycling facilities and new link roads for Penrose and Onehunga. Although approval has been given for the work, the New Zealand Government has now decided not

Construction work is commencing on a major new road project in Costa Rica. The project will see improvement works carried out to the 107km route connecting Limon on the country’s eastern coast, with Rio Frio lying in the north, and close to the border with Nicaragua. The work is being carried out by the Chinese contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). The first stretch of road to be upgraded will be the section of Route 32 close to Limon. In all the work is costing US$465 million, with some $395

Construction work is commencing on a major new road project in Costa Rica. The project will see improvement works carried out to the 107km route connecting Limon on the country’s eastern coast, with Rio Frio lying in the north, and close to the border with Nicaragua. The work is being carried out by the Chinese contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC). The first stretch of road to be upgraded will be the section of Route 32 close to Limon. In all the work is costing US$465 million, with some $395

Brazil’s economic woes are now affecting the construction of a new bridge connecting the country with Paraguay. The project is expected to cost US$71.34 million and the contract was awarded to Construbase-Ciudad-Paulitec and the necessary environmental permits were also given earlier in 2017. However now that Brazil is unable to provide its portion of the funds necessary, the completion date will have to wait. The bridge was to have been the second such link between the two countries and is required as the

Bauer, equipment maker for ground investigation work, reports third quarter 2017 total group revenue up 22% on the previous year to just over €1,398 million. The German company said sales revenues increased by 27.5% to €1,265.6 million. However, the order backlog was €977.3 million that, while still high, was down from €1,019.0 million the previous year. This was due to a high double-digit million order backlog taken off the books after the sale of shares in a real estate company at the end of 2016.

Two major infrastructure projects in Bangladesh are experiencing rather different fates at present. A lack of suitable funding has resulted in the US$705 million Karnaphuli river tunnel project coming to a grinding halt. However the $1.53 billion contract for the Dhaka to Ashulia highway has now been awarded to the Chinese firm, China National Machinery Import and Export Corp (CMC). Chinese funding is intended to pay for the Karnaphuli Tunnel, but has so far been delayed and the Chinese contractor awarded

Morocco’s road development programme is continuing with the announcement of plans for new motorway projects and upgrades. The country’s motorway company, ADM, will spend US$366.8 million on building a new motorway link from Berrechid to Tit Mellil and also to add lanes to the Casablanca to Berrechid connection. The latter will help reduce congestion at peak periods and improve journey times for users. New automated tolling systems are also being introduced on the country’s motorway network.