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It’s that time of year again when city authorities in the Italian capital regularly close down some of the more clogged city streets. But it’s not cars that are the problem. It’s bird excrement, by the tonne, from starlings that migrate from northern Europe to live in Rome during the less brutal winter. Cleaners are out in force in the more affected areas where recent rainfall has made the streets dangerously slippery for motorcycle and mopeds. Meanwhile, sidewalks have become treacherous for pedestrians

The Philippines federal government has earmarked US$138 million for repairing provincial roads in 73 of the country’s 81 provinces. The Department of Budget and Management allocated the money under the KALSADA programme that devolves responsibility for road repair and maintain of provincial roads, alongside the planning of other local infrastructure, to local governments. Local governments are also expected to come up with their own Provincial Road Network Development Plans. Public Works Secretary

Bolivian President Evo Morales has said the government will spend US$1.9 billion on national highways in 2016. Nearly $12 million will be spent in expanding the Rio Seco-San Roque road in El Alto from one to 10 lanes. Morales requested that the El Alto municipal government assist in the project development by providing sewage and lighting works, as well as providing better security for roads that are often off limits because of their use by smugglers, according to a report to El Deber.

Toll roads built in Germany under public-private partnerships deals has been costing taxpayers much more than originally planned, a government spending watchdog has claimed. An internal report the German Federal Audit Office (BRH) has criticised PPP plans for private motorway construction as laid out by the Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Alexander Dobrindt. According to the report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, five out of the total six motorways built through a PPP deal resu

Funding for new bridges that will improve transport links between Myanmar and neighbouring India will be provided by India. The funding will pay for the construction of 69 highway bridges across Myanmar. The work on the bridges is expected to be completed in the middle of 2019. The rebuilding of the Kalewa-Tamu-Kyigone route will cost some US$56 million and will improve transport and freight connectivity between both nations. The new road section will also be part of a proposed bus route between Mandalay, M

Road crashes in Brunei caused more deaths in 2015 compared with 2014. The data from Brunei's Fire and Rescue Department shows that from January to November 2015, there were 15 road deaths compared with 10 fatalities from road crashes in 2014. In the period under review, the department obtained 76 calls to assist in lifting drivers and passengers trapped in ruined vehicles as opposed to 92 calls obtained in the preceding year. Serious injuries, however, dropped year-on-year from 92 to 65 in the 11 reporting

A survey of drivers carried out in the UK reveals that a significant portion believe their spouse to be their most annoying passenger. This could pose a serious risk too since annoying passengers can provide a major distraction to drivers. The survey, carried out by car leasing firm OSV said that 43% of male drivers and 41% of female drivers found their spouse to be the most annoying passenger. The survey also found that around 65% of motorists admit to regularly arguing in their car. Other annoying passeng

Late December and early January has proven to be a dangerous time to use the roads in Thailand. Official data shows that there were 3,092 road crashes, causing 3,216 injuries and 340 deaths in the period between the 29th December 2015 and the 3rd January 2016. The death toll was the highest in Nakhon Ratchasima at 15, while the number of injuries and accidents were the highest in Chiang Mai, both at 125. A total of 339 crashes occurred nationwide on 3 January 2016 with 361 injuries and 48 deaths. Among the

Bridge parapets are intended to meet rigorous safety standards - Image courtesy of World Highways reader Mike Hughes

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has issued a draft request for proposals (RFP) for the US$2.1 billion Interstate 66 tolled expansion project. Work under a 40-50-year public-private partnership is expected to include construction of 46km of lanes.

A large budget has been set by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai. Contracts worth US$131.22 million have been awarded for a series of road, bridge, crossing and tunnel upgrades.

Opponents of a proposed 10-lane bridge near Vancouver, Canada, said the structure will encourage urban sprawl in a region that is already struggling with a booming population. The British Columbia provincial government recently opened the final round of public consultation for the planned 3.3km toll bridge likely to cost around US$2.54 billion.

Road safety is improving in the UAE according to official data. The latest statistics from the Traffic Coordination General at the Interior Ministry of the UAE show reductions in deaths and injuries caused by road crashes in the January to October 2015 period. The data shows deaths on the UAE’s roads have dropped 4.9% while serious injuries have fallen by 5.1% over the same period. The number of deaths resulting from traffic crashes posted in the 10 months under review amounted to 560, compared with 589 for

The US$644 million South Road upgrade in Adelaide will be 1km longer than planned following cost savings measures, according to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Much of the savings were gained through design improvements and fewer relocations of services such as gas, water and electricity. A report by ABC in May said that completely turning Adelaide's South Road into a non-stop north-south corridor in the next decade 10 will cost just over $5.04 billion. ABC News said it had see