According to a new report by Timetric's Construction Intelligence Center (CIC), the major economies in Asia-Pacific are investing over US$3.15 trillion in road and railway projects in the coming years. China the leading economy also leads the 13 countries analysed and in all four sectors with projects valued at over US$1.44 trillion, followed by India at almost US$528 billion and Australia with US$231 billion.
      China is investing huge amounts in to its roads program and has now overtaken the US in terms of building freeways or motorways in the last ten years with 70,000 km or 45,000 miles of roads. Both China and India are also investing significant amounts into intercity rail networks and new metro systems in their urban centers.
      Timetric's project analysis shows that railways heads the sectors tracked with a total value of US$1.41 trillion followed by roads valued at US$798.2 billion, trams and metros with US$576.9 billion and tunnels and bridges with US$368.1 billion.
      The 13 countries of Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam have over 61% of projects worth a total of US$1.95 trillion at the pre-construction stage.
      "The large economies of India and China and the other growing economies in the region are investing in new road and rail infrastructure to link up major urban areas and to transport populations within major cities using mass transit networks. The need by China to reduce freight costs and increase speed of delivery has also resulted in more investment in east-west rail freight lines." comments Neil Martin, Manager at Timetric CIC.
      The largest value projects in Asia-Pacific tracked by CIC in the sector are the US$88 billion South Korea to China Underwater Train Tunnel and the US$80 billion Fuzhou to Taipei Highway: Taiwan Strait tunnel.


Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge