Finance & Funding

The fallback option for a major road and tunnel project in Australia now includes the possible payment of compensation should construction delays hold back its opening. The potential compensation package is being planned by the Victoria State Government to Transurban for Melbourne’s massive US$4.73 billion (A$6.7 billion) West Gate Tunnel project. The size of the compensation fee remains as yet unannounced, although some estimates suggest it could be as high as $1.27 billion (A$1.8 billion). Transurban expe

Construction of a major new expressway is due to commence in Laos during February 2019. The country is also planning an extensive programme of road upgrades and development work. Construction is commencing on a four-lane expressway that will connect Dongmakkhai village in Xaythany district and the Lao International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre in Xaysettha district. The project is benefiting from US$200 million from a local firm and Chinese company Nolico. The 15.2km expressway is intended to cu

A tender has been announced to build a third lane for the A2 motorway between Lodz and Warsaw in Poland. According to the Polish General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA), the cost will be around €139 million with completion set for 2021. The A2 is part of the country’s road infrastructure connecting Poland with the European motorway network. The A2 Motorway is part of the TransEuropean Road Network (E30) from Cork in Ireland to Omsk in Russia and is located in Pan-European transport

Funding has been secured from Japan to help pay for construction of the Thanlyin Bridge No 3 project in Myanmar. A loan worth US$282.5 million is being provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Construction is due to start in March 2019 and should take until 2023 to complete. The new bridge will form part of Asia’s new East-West Economic Corridor.

Mexico is setting a budget for road development works during the coming year. A budget of US$4.14 billion has been set for rebuilding existing roads and building new links during 2019. This budget has been set by the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT). Projects being prioritised include the completion of Oaxaca-Puerto Escondido and Oaxaca-Mitla-Tehuantepec Isthmus roads. Maintenance work, link roads from highways to towns and upgrades to 5,500km of roads across the country will also b

A number of major road and bridge projects are now commencing in China. In Sichuan Province an environmental impact assessment report is being carried out for the Jigzhi-Barkam highway project. Work is starting shortly on the highway, which will stretch 224km and is expected to cost US$4.3 billion to construct. The report is being carried out by the province’s Ecology and Environment Agency. This new highway will provide many challenges to construction due to the topography of the route and will feature 190