Finance & Funding

The Nicaraguan Government is setting out major plans for road infrastructure development. The country's master plan for road infrastructure envisages work to a total of 4,200km of main roads across the country. This programme is expected to cost in the order of US$5.20 billion, according to pre-feasibility studies carried out by Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC). Funding is being sought at present by the Nicaraguan Government, which is in discussion with a number of bodies.

Brazi llooks set to delay a number of key infrastructure projects until 2016. The Brazilian Federal Government's planned transport sector concession tenders will see investments close to US$46.58 billion in all. But these will be pushed back to 2016 due to the difficulty of launching all auctions in 2015 due to technical, economic and political limits. The tenders are revised versions of those promised previously. However only the airport tenders having been launched with success. Due to revisions in the pl

Indonesian toll road operator Jasa Marga is keen to source funding to finance 10 new highway projects. The company is looking for loans in the shape of bond issuances as well as from banking firms. The 10 highway projects will extend for a total distance of 272.45km in all. Jasa Marga hopes to source loans worth a total of US$215.46 million for the work. However in all the projects are expected to cost some $306.37 million to construct.

Cambodia is continuing with the construction of a key highway project. Work is now underway on building National Road No58. The project has been by a number of Chinese companies, which are investing some US$122 million into the 174km road. The new road will link Samrong city in Uddor Meanchey Province with Poipet City in Banteay Meanchey Province. Construction is being carried out by Chinese contractor Shanghai Construction (Group) General Company. Completion of the construction work is scheduled for August

In Australia funding has now been sourced for the Townsville Ring Road project. The country’s Federal Government is supplying the US$122.52 million (A$160 million) required for the Townsville Ring Road project. This road will connect Mount Low and Shaw Road in Queensland. The Queensland State Government will supply the remaining $30.6 million (A$40 million) required to complete the budget needed for the project. The Townsville Ring Road is scheduled to open for traffic in 2017. This new route is needed to c

The Brenner Base Tunnel could be financed by highway users according to a proposal by the Italian Ministry of Transport. The authorities in South Tyrol have suggested that the EU may forego new tenders and recalculate the concession period so that it is for a longer timeframe. This would be of benefit both to the Italian Government (which has budgetary restraints), and the EU. Highway operator Brennerautobahn, in which the Italian regions of Trentino and South Tyrol have a 32.2% stake, already provides €30

In Canada the British Colombia Government has announced a programme of road and highway upgrades worth a total of US$1.99 billion (C$2.5 billion). The investment will be used to rehabilitate side roads, highways and bridges across the province. This plan will include repaving some 1,000km/year of provincial highway, with this plan stretching out over a period of 10 years. A key portion of the work will be to widen Highway 1 section to six lanes between Abbotsford and Langley. The proposed plan has been titl