Finance & Funding

In Bolivia three road tenders are now underway, part of a programme to upgrade the country’s network as only 10% of its road links are paved at present. The country’s road authority, ABC, opened these tenders which are intended to develop transport links in Bolivia’s Cochabamba and Santa Cruz departments. One project is for a US$85 million highway connecting Yapacani with Ichilo. Another project is for the $61 million 31km road link between Ivirgarzama and Puente Chimoré. The third tender is for the $69 mil

The Nepalese Government is opening up an expression of interest process that will generate a shortlist to carry out the Kathmandhu-Terai/Madhes Fast Track Road project. The new Kathmandhu-Nijgadh expressway will run for 76km and its construction will involve building a twin tube tunnel 1.35km long and eight bridges. The project will be carried out under the PPP model and construction costs are likely to be in the region of US$844 million. Nepal may well look to neighbouring China for at least a portion of t

The Zambian Government is planning a major road infrastructure programme, in a bid to boost the country’s connectivity and help continue with its economic growth. The country has established the Link Zambia 8000 project, which is being carried out in a series of phases. The first phase will include the upgrade of some 2,290km of roads and could cost in the region of US$1.5 billion to implement. The World Bank is currently evaluating plans for the second phase of the project. Funding sources have yet to be r

Support for the development of the Honduran highway network is coming from the US. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US Government body, is currently hoping to hire a consultancy that will be able to advise the Honduran Government on developing its highway concession programme, reports Business News Americas. The winner of this process will assist the Honduran infrastructure and public services ministry (Insep) and the superintendent of public-private partnerships in managing road concessions. K

Serbia’s Ministry of Construction has plans to rebuild and upgrade some 1,000km of roads between 2014 and 2018. The work is expected to cost €300 million. Serbia’s Government is looking to the EU for the ratification of a previously discussed loan worth €300 million. This loan has been approved by the World Bank, the EBRD and the European Investment Bank (EIB). The money will be used to fund road rebuilding work, with one of the first projects to tackle being the improvement of the Zrenjanin-Zabalj route.

The authorities in Tasmania are planning a major programme of road rebuilding work that will boost transport links. Worth some US$684.4 million (A$733 million) the budget includes the $184 million (A$197 million) required to carry out the planned upgrade to the Midland Highway. A further $3 million (A$3.2 million) will be used to establish an independent body called Infrastructure Tasmania that will provide expert advice on the infrastructure needs of the state such as ports and major roads.

Funding has been found to finance India’s infrastructure investment into National Highway 1 in Jammu & Kashmir. A deal by ICICI Bank and Srinagar Sonmarg Tunnelway is providing the necessary loans for the Srinagar-Sonamarg-Gumri road and tunnel link. The project involves building a 6km road and 6.5km tunnel and the concession deal also involves maintenance and operation of the link. Srinagar Sonmarg Tunnelway, is a 49:51 joint venture combined of IL&FS Transportation Networks and Soma Enterprises.

A major programme of infrastructure investment in Mexico is seeing the country developing 46 highway projects that are due for completion in 2018. The country’s transport and communications ministry (SCT) says that 28 of the highway projects are under construction at present, while eight were completed recently and work on a further seven will commence before the end of 2014. This programme of works forms part of the National Infrastructure Plan (PNI). In all, the programme for the 46 highways is worth arou

Balfour Beatty is selling its Parsons Brinckerhoff business to WSP Global for US$1.3525 billion (£820 million). Part of the agreement is that $110 million (£67 million) being retained within Parsons Brinckerhoff. With the acquisition of Parsons Brinckerhoff, WSP becomes one of the world’s largest professional services firms. The deal increases WSP’s presence across global emerging markets in Asia and Australasia as well as providing opportunities in the UK market, where Parsons Brinckerhoff is well-establis

The Croatian Government is prioritising infrastructure spending in a bid to improve transport connections throughout the whole country.