Finance & Funding

Contractors are gearing up for one of the UK’s largest road projects, the 34km widening of the A14 between the town of Huntingdon and city of Cambridge. The €1.7 billion government-funded scheme will be delivered over four years by a joint venture between Skanska, Costain, Balfour Beatty and Carillion.

European Union governments took in €286.3 billion in road taxes during 2013 but re-invested only €178 billion back into highways, according to a new study.

Approval for a US$50 million loan to develop a highway stretch in Armenia has been given by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The loan will be used to upgrade the M6 Highway from Vanadzor in Armenia to the country’s border with Georgia at Bagratashen. The route is one of the most strategic roads for internal and external trade for landlocked Armenia while it also lies close to the country’s border with Azerbaijan. The upgrading of this highway will also provide an important link to the Black Sea Ring Road p

Illinois tollway has outlined its budget plans for 2017. The agency expects toll revenues to hit US$1.38 billion for 2017. The plans in the tentative budget call for 75% to be directed to develop infrastructure. Some $336 million will be used for operations and maintenance while $639 million will be used for capital investments. The combined figures planned in the tentative budget for operations and maintenance and capital investments represent an increase of $14 million over the combined sum for 2016. A

Indonesia is setting a massive infrastructure budget in place. Some US$29.52 billion will be invested in infrastructure under the 2017 budget. The country is planning to construct around 550km of new bridges and 9,400km of new roads.

Germany has made a U-turn on its controversial proposals to allow private investment into the administration of the Autobahn network. The proposals had attracted a great deal of political criticism and had become the subject of some debate. Proposals may yet allow private investors to take stakes in motorway construction projects. The country has a substantial backlog of road projects. The suggestion to allow private investment into Autobahn projects has come following discussions between the Federal Govern

Plans are being drawn up in Malaysia for a major bridge project, which will boost transport links and economic development for the region. The project looks likely to be run under the public-private partnership model. The bridge will link Sabah and Labuan and will be at least 10km long. A Chinese firm has reportedly shown an interest in carrying out the project and is evaluating possible financing options. The bridge will form part of the Pan-Borneo highway project when it is complete, an important road lin

The contract for a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) has been awarded in the US state of Virginia. The project will cost close to US$100 million and will be built in Stafford County. The contract will be handled by Shirley Contracting Company, of Lorton. The new DDI facility will replace the existing Interstate 95/Route 630 (Courthouse Road) interchange. The aim of the project is to increase traffic capacity as growing vehicle use is expected at this location in the Fredericksburg District. The work will

German transport infrastructure financing company VIFG, which is 100% owned by the German federal government, is to take over the planning and construction of motorways. According to the official website of the VIFG, planning and construction is done mostly be state governments. The VIFG has promised more transparency of road contracts.

The Czech government has set the 2017 budget for the Transport Infrastructure Fund at €3.03 billion. The budget includes European Union subsidies of just over €1.1 billion and a state budget contribution of €1.9 billion. The largest share of the funds will go towards construction and repair of roads, with nearly €1.7 billion allocated to the state road and motorway management company RSD. Around €111 million from the 2016 budget will be transferred to the 2017 budget for repairs of class II and III