News

The authorities in Indonesia plan to invest heavily in infrastructure in 2010 and 2011, with road transport regarded as a high priority. The Directorate General of Highway Construction at the Public Work Ministry has set a budget of US$1.86 billion budget for 2010. According to the Public Work Ministry, 1% of the total budget for 2010 will be used to develop around 536km of roads while 11.5% of the budget will be spent on preservation of 4,400km roads

A huge highway investment programme is planned for China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region during July-December 2010. Guangxi Communications Investment will launch eight expressway projects in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This move will bring the number of expressway projects under development in the region to a total of 22, which are worth over US$22 billion. The 22 expressways will extend some 2,300km in all, while these eight additional projects being discussed extend for 876km.

Vietnam intends to set up an electronic network that will charge vehicle drivers to enter the centre of Ho Chi Minh City. Congestion is a major problem in the city and the authorities wish to help tackle the issue and allow better traffic flow. The electronic congestion charging system will be installed on roads at Districts 10, 3 and 1 and Ho Chi Minh City will the first in Vietnam to adopt such an approach.

Work on the Libyan section of the North African coastal highway now looks set to go ahead. Two consortia from Italy are to tender for the pre-qualifying stage of the US$3 billion project. The highway will run some 1,700km from Libya's border with Tunisia all the way to the border with Egypt. This is the final section in the new highway running all the way from Morocco in North West Africa to Egypt in the North East.

Planning for West Africa's first PPP motorway deal is now moving forward and construction work is due to begin this summer. The ?200 million Toll Highway will run 25km from Dakar, the capital of Senegal, towards the country's new international airport (AIBD) at Diass and the economic development gateway at Diamniadio. The highway will cross a densely populated district at Pikine Irrégulier Sud and forms part of a wider development programme for the Dakar region.

A major loan from Japan will help develop the road transport network in Kazakhstan. The Japanese government will provide a loan to the Republic of Kazakhstan worth US$76 million. The sum will be used to develop the country's road infrastructure and will boost Kazakhstan's access to European and Asian markets. The loan will allow a new bypass to be built on one of the country's main transport arteries in the southern Zhambyl province, as well as the rehabilitation of other existing routes.

A feasibility study is now in hand for a 10km bridge in Brunei to link Temburong with Brunei-Muara. Ove Arup & Partners has been awarded the contract for the bridge study, a deal worth some US$2.1 million that is expected to take 18 months to complete.

Two key highway upgrades will be carried out in Australia by Valemus, a subsidiary of German construction firm Bilfinger Berger. In total the work is worth some US$219.4 million. Valemus is building a section of the Pacific Highway in New South Wales. This 8.6km four-lane road forms a bypass around Bulahdelah and is the final link in the southern section of this highway.

Ethiopia is targeting a major investment in transport infrastructure as a means to boost its economy in the long term. The country's government has plans for a road building programme worth an impressive US$8.97 billion. The aim of the programme will be to build 82,500km of roads over a five year period. This will extend Ethiopia's road network from 49,000km at present to a total of 136,000km.

The official opening of the new Corredor Bioceanico Central highway linking Brazil, Chile and Bolivia will be carried out in November of this year. The corridor provides a vital commercial link between the countries and is of particular importance to Bolivia, which is entirely landlocked. Better access to ports in Brazil and Chile and will help Bolivia's economy while also helping trade in those nations. Measuring 3,800 km long, the corridor comprises a number of roads that link Santos in Brazil to Iquique

The authorities in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo intend to invest in new storm drains in the near future. Photo courtesy of World Highways reader Lionel Rajapakse.

Plans are well in hand for a new link that will improve connections between capital Santiago and its fast growing satellite town of Lampa. The US$130 million project will shorten the current journey time of one hour to 35 minutes and is expected to carry some 10,000 - 17,000 vehicles/day when it opens to traffic.