Finance & Funding

Mexico’s Quintana Roo State is to benefit from major expansion works to its transport infrastructure.

A joint venture team has been awarded the US$1.7 billion I-635 LBJ East infrastructure project in Dallas, Texas. Fluor Corporation heads the joint venture, which also includes Balfour Beatty Infrastructure. The partners will carry out the contract to design and construct the I-635 LBJ East Project in Dallas for the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). The scope of work includes the widening and full reconstruction of nearly 18km of the I-635 route, which is also known as LBJ Freeway. In addition, th

Argentina is looking to source a series of loans to pay for six important road projects. The Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) is in discussions with officials in the country over the loans package, worth a total of US$200 million. The funding would be used for six PPP road projects. Other financing worth $900 million is also being secured for the six road projects, with some of the construction work already underway.

Both Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) and Hanoi in Vietnam are to benefit from new transport infrastructure. For HCMC, as much as $39.6 billion will be required to deliver all of the 85 transport infrastructure projects being planned. Severe congestion and flooding are frequent problems causing major traffic hold-ups. Of the 85 transport projects needed for the city, 15 are for the construction of new roads while 55 are for road/bridge works. A further eight are for rail links and seven for waterways. Meanwhile in

Construction work on an important road link is underway in South Eastern Nigeria. The US$333 million road link will connect Bodo with Bonny Island. The 35.7km road includes the construction of a new bridge. The work is being carried out by contractor Julius Berger and commenced in 2017, with completion due in 2022. The project faces technical challenges as 7km of the route runs through marshy ground. There have also been issues between residents in the area and the contractor. When complete, the new road w

The Serbian Government has secured a financing package to help pay for a key highway project. A loan worth €385.8 million is being provided by China’s Export-Import Bank for the construction of the Preljina-Pozega highway. In addition, the Serbian Government is also being provided with an €867 million loan from China’s Export-Import Bank for the development of the Novi Sad-Subotica railway line.

The authorities in St Petersburg are setting out plans for a series of road improvement and expansion works. A budget of US$678.6 million has been set to assist in financing the road works. In all 25 road projects are being planned. Two key projects are for building the Yuzhno-Volkhonskaya Road and the Southern Latitudinal Highway (Phase I). Another two key projects are for the upgrades of the the Petrozavodskoye Highway and the Primorskoye Highway (Phase II). All four of these projects should commence in 2

Thailand is looking to support a major highway project that will connect with its neighbours. A new 138km highway link will improve transport connections between Thailand and Myanmar’s Dawei Special Economic Zone. This route will likely receive financial support via Thailand’s Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA). This is just one of several projects NEDA is aiming to assist. NEDA is in talks with representatives of a number of neighbouring countries such as Laos and Cambodi

Volvo CE and SDLG are further deepening their corporate cooperation. From December 2020 excavators weighing 15tonnes or more that are made for the Chinese market will now bear the Volvo CE brand. These machines will also feature the latest Volvo CE technology. This is a marked change from the present situation, with Volvo CE and SDLG selling their separate products in China. However with the coming introduction of the China IV emission standards, the excavators weighing 15tonnes or more will feature the

Plans to construct a tunnel link for the A303 route past the famous Stonehenge monument have hit further problems.