Finance & Funding

Further problems surround the project to construct Algeria’s East-West Highway. Much of the route is complete, however a number of sections have faced delays with disputes having developed between contractors and the Algerian Government, which is overseeing the project. This latest development has seen the Algerian Ministry for Public Works announcing that the Japanese firm Cojaal has lost its contract to construct the remaining 84km of the eastern section of the East-West highway. It is not clear at presen

A major highway project in Nicaragua is coming closer to fruition. The new link would cross the country, connecting its Caribbean and Pacific Ocean coasts. The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has been called upon to approve a US$150 million loan at the end of October 2014 to part finance the scheme. Meanwhile funds worth $39 million have already been approved for the Rio Blanco-Mulukuku section of this road, which has been put out to tender. The $150 million CABEI loan would be put to

Azerbaijan will see a major investment in its road infrastructure. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supplying funding worth US$350 million that will be targeted at road construction in Azerbaijan. The funding will be for the 2015-2017 period. Meanwhile a further $752 million from the ADB will be used to develop other aspects of infrastructure in Azerbaijan such as general transportation and utilities over the same period.

In Bulgaria questions hang over the construction of a section of the Struma Highway. Greek construction company Aktor was originally awarded the contract for Lot 4 of the Struma Highway but work on the project slipped behind schedule. The delays seen so far with the project have not been well received within the Bulgarian Government. The work was supposed to have been completed around the end of 2014 or the beginning of 2015 and the country’s transport ministry has said that work on the highway cannot be de

Urban road in Brazil are to benefit from additional funds for repairs and repaving. An increase of some US$1.35 billion in financing for the country’s accelerated growth programme (PAC) has been approved by the Brazilian Government. The increase in funding has been required as the budget set previously was insufficient for all the planned works.

Pakistan is planning a project to construct a new northern highway connecting Havelian and Hassanabdal. The loans required to finance the project have been signed by both the government of Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Havelian-Hassanabdal (Burhan) Expressway (E-35) project is for a north-south access controlled highway. This new link will connect the existing highway network with north Pakistan and the associated construction contracts are worth some US$200 million in all.

Financing has been found for road repairs and rebuilding in Paraguay. A series of planned projects will see roads and bridge being refurbished and rebuilt. The Latin American Development Bank (CAF) will provide loans worth US$272 million for road and bridge repairs. A $50 million loan will be used to pay for work in the country’s Oriental region. In all 110 bridges will be built across Paraguay. A loan will also pay for improvements to National Route 9 connecting Mariscal Estigarribia and La Patria and La P