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A lack of sufficient road maintenance poses future problems for Belgium’s road network, according to the country’s planning office. Unless investment is made, the Belgium Planning Office (BPO) believes the nation’s road network will become overcrowded and dilapidated by 2020. BPO says that this could result in travel speeds falling 29% from 2008 to 2030 due to congestion and with a corresponding rise in journey times. Belgium's roads are amongst those with the heaviest traffic volumes in Europe. The BPO bel

Talks between the Chinese Development Bank and the Serbian Government could result in €400-€450 million of Chinese funding for Serbian highway projects. The Danube coast and the Corridor 11 projects are among those earmarked for a potential cash boost. Serbia’s Ministry for Transport (MOT) is also in talks with Chinese partners about other highway builds including100km of the Belgrade-Cacak, Belgrade-Obrenovac, Preljina-Ljig and Lajkovac-Ljig routes, as well as the 100km Pojate-Preljina project. China Road

Bosnian motorways company Autoputevi RS claims that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has expressed readiness to approve a €350 million loan for the construction of the 46.6km long part of the Corridor Vc motorway, from Doboj to Vukosavlje. The project is set to be carried out through what has been described as a public and private partnership model.

After many delays work is now progressing on the expansion of Bulgaria’s highway network. The authorities in Sofia plan to commence construction of the 33km Vratsa-Botevgrad link in the west of the country and the project is expected to cost in the region of €188 million. Meanwhile Turkish input is to be withdrawn from the Ruse-Svilengrad highway project. However, Qatar and Bulgaria remain committed to the project, which will eventually provide a link between Romania and Greece. Running through Bulgaria, th

Authorities in the Czech capital Prague are looking at options to speed the completion of a new ring road. Constructing the internal ring road on a fast-track basis could cost in the order of €81.5 million (CZK2 billion). Should this move be made the route could be ready to carry traffic by 2015. Prague suffers heavy congestion at peak periods, particularly in the historic city centre. The new road would help reduce the need for drivers travelling through the congested centre and help cut journey times over

The European Commission (EC) has launched a new award that encourages the adoption of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) by local and regional authorities. Under the inaugural theme 'stakeholder and citizen participation', local and regional authorities can submit their SUMPs for award consideration at www.dotherightmix.eu EC vice-president Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said: “'Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans can help cities and towns offer their citizens integrated mobility options that ar

Road deaths in France were down 7.6% in August 2012 compared to the same month in 2011. In total, 342 people were killed in road accidents. During the first eight months of 2012, road deaths were down 8.9% compared to the same period of 2011, despite a 3.6% increase during the month of July. Between September 2011 and August 2012, the number of deaths was 3,728. As of 1 November, 2012, it will be compulsory to have a breathalyser in every vehicle. This move comes in addition to the 3,900 speed cameras which