Skip to main content

Nepal's road safety upgrade

The Nepalese authorities closed the incomplete third phase section of the BP highway to traffic following two fatal accidents recently. In all 58 people were killed in the two accidents on the Khurkot-Nepalthok stretch of the BP highway route, although construction work on the stretch has yet to be completed. So far 123km of the 158km route has been built by a Japanese contractor and these three stretches of the road have been opened to traffic. Of the remaining 37km being built, some 14km should be complet
April 26, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSThe Nepalese authorities closed the incomplete third phase section of the BP highway to traffic following two fatal accidents recently. In all 58 people were killed in the two accidents on the Khurkot-Nepalthok stretch of the BP highway route, although construction work on the stretch has yet to be completed. So far 123km of the 158km route has been built by a Japanese contractor and these three stretches of the road have been opened to traffic. Of the remaining 37km being built, some 14km should be complete within five months. These most recent accidents and other incidents have highlighted the safety issues of the existing Khurkot-Nepalthok section, with the safety improvements now being prioritised. The upgrade work for this section will include widening the road and removing dangerous curves. In all the BP highway, which was planned in the late 1980s with input from Japanese body 6706 JICA, features four sections: Bardibas-Sindhuli Bazaaar; Sindhuli Bazaar-Khurkot; Khurkot-Nepalthok; Nepalthok-Dhulikel. Construction work commenced in 1996 on the highway, which is designed to improve transport connections between capital Kathmandu and Teria.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Australia road contract for German firm Hochtief
    September 15, 2017
    German firm Hochtief will see its Australian subsidiary CPB Contractors carry out a US$294 million (A$365 million) project on a stretch of Australia’s Pacific Highway. The package of works involves widening and upgrading a 34km section of the highway, with construction now starting and due for completion during 2020. The improved route will be widened so that it has four lanes, with two in either direction and will offer increased capacity as well as better safety for drivers.
  • Major bridge widening project going to plan
    April 11, 2012
    When built it was determined that a vital US road/rail bridge would always be widened. Work on that huge project is going to plan as Patrick Smith reports One of the biggest bridge widening projects in the world is being carried out under an ambitious development programme. At US$1.2 billion, the seven-year scheme to widen the Huey P. Long Bridge in the US state of Louisiana is also the largest of 16 projects planned under the state's TIMED (Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development)
  • Sri Lanka's new highway - on track
    February 14, 2012
    Work is progressing on-track on Sri Lanka's Southern Expressway project. This will be the country's first expressway and is expected to be completed by 2012, removing the bulk of traffic from the existing coastal road that is highly congested and also has serious safety issues.
  • East Africa’s massive new ring road project
    June 30, 2016
    Plans are being drawn up for a major new highway project in East Africa. Preparations are being made by the authorities in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The 450km ring road route runs around the shoreline of Lake Victoria and will provide better transport connections for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, as well as for other near neighbours, particularly Rwanda and Burundi. New border posts will be required, to help increase the flow of traffic between the nations. Although it will be complex, the project will boos