Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Cars drive over a bridge towards central Melbourne, Australia.

Good road infrastructure is one of the most important components of the economy as it plays a big part in delivery of goods and services.

Let's take a look at some countries spending a lot on improving their roads.

Source: internationaltransportforum.org

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Tourists gather in Times Square in New York City, United States.

United States

Total investments: $74,164 million

Overall rank: 1

United States, the biggest economy in the world, spends a huge amount on its road infrastructure. The US, known as the country of cars, has some of the most well-connected highways and freeways in the globe.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of Montreal, Canada.

Canada

Total investments: $20,109 million

Overall rank: 2

Canada, one of the richest countries in the world, is the second-biggest spender on roads primarily because the country is huge and its population is thinly spread.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Traffic crosses a major road bridge leading to Sydney's central business district, Australia.

Australia

Total investments: $18,417 million

Overall rank: 3

Australia, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is the third-biggest spender on roads primarily because the country is huge and its population is thinly spread.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of Paris, France.

France

Total investments: $15,860 million

Overall rank: 4

France, one of the richest economies in the world, connects some of its most beautiful cities and tourist destinations with equally efficient road network.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Tourists Caro and Anna from Munich lie in a bed mounted to a rental bike as they ride along Friedrichstrasse in central Berlin, Germany.

Germany

Total investments: $15,503 million

Overall rank: 5

Germany, one of the biggest economic powerhouses of the world, owes much of its trade success to its excellent roads.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A woman walks on the platform as a train arrives at Mayakovskaya metro station, which was built in 1938, in Moscow, Russia.

Russia

Total investments: $11,235 million

Overall rank: 6

Russia, one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, invests a lot in its road network primarily because its a huge country and its population is thinly spread.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of Warsaw, Poland.

Poland

Total investments: $11,108 million

Overall rank: 7

Poland, which was hit badly by the 2008 global economic crisis, is investing a lot of money into infrastructure in an effort to boost trade.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of Madrid, Spain.

Spain

Total investments: $7,893 million

Overall rank: 8

Spain, which was also hit badly by the 2008 global economic crisis, is investing a lot of money into infrastructure in an effort to put its economy back on track.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of Istanbul's financial district, Turkey.

Turkey

Total investments: $6,918 million

Overall rank: 9

Turkey, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is investing a lot of money into infrastructure as its economy witnesses a boom.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Piccadilly Circus in central London, United Kingdom.

United Kingdom

Total investments: $6,872 million

Overall rank: 10

United Kingdom, one of the biggest financial centres of the world, has some of the most well-connected roads in the globe.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Ice skaters on a rink in Mexico City's Zocalo Square, Mexico.

Mexico

Total investments: $5,223 million

Overall rank: 11

Mexico, one of fastest growing economies in the world, is investing a lot on road network in an effort to boost trade both within the nation and also with neighbouring countries.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of Parliament Palace in downtown Bucharest, Romania.

Romania

Total investments: $4,383 million

Overall rank: 12

Romania, which was hit badly by the 2008 global economic crisis, is focusing on its road network as its growth bounces back.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Royal Palace at the end of Karl Johans Gate in Oslo, Norway.

Norway

Total investments: $3,637 million

Overall rank: 13

Norway, one of the richest nations in the world, invests millions of dollars on its roads every year.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

The Netherlands

Total investments: $3,053 million

Overall rank: 14

The Netherlands, one of the biggest exporters of dairy products in the world, sees millions of tourists enjoy its excellent road network every year.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of the main government building in central Baku, Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan

Total investments: $2,085 million

Overall rank: 15

Azerbaijan, which has one of the biggest oil and gas reserves in the world, is the largest country in Central Asia.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Tourists ride segways past Prague Castle in the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic

Total investments: $1,727 million

Overall rank: 16

Czech Republic, one of the most developed countries in eastern Europe, has some of the best infrastructure in the region.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Tourists take part in the reindeer safari at Arctic Circle near Rovaniemi, northern Finland.

Finland

Total investments: $1,244 million

Overall rank: 17

Finland, one of the richest countries in the world, has some of the most picturesque roads in the globe.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Brad Smith performs a skyjump atop the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand.

New Zealand

Total investments: $1,121 million

Overall rank: 18

New Zealand, one of the biggest producers of dairy products in the world, has some of the best roads connecting its beautiful hills and rural areas.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A cyclist rides past the Coffee To Get Her restaurant near Dublin city centre which becomes a bar and club in the evenings, Ireland.

Ireland

Total investments: $618 million

Overall rank: 19

Ireland, which was hit badly by the 2008 global economic crisis, is investing a lot in its infrastructure to boost its growth.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
'Welcome' statue in front of Bratislava castle in Bratislava, Slovakia.

Slovakia

Total investments: $576 million

Overall rank: 20

Slovakia, whose capital Bratislava is the financial capital, is witnessing a lot of foreign investments in various sectors, including infrastructure.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A woman walks past the golden-domed Alexander Nevski cathedral in central Sofia, Bulgaria.

Bulgaria

Total investments: $459 million

Overall rank: 21

Bulgaria, which has seen rapid growth in recent years, is putting in a lot of money in its road network.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A man drives a city resident in a Velomobile outside the cathedral in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Lithuania

Total investments: $457 million

Overall rank: 22

Lithuania, which has the biggest economy in the Baltic region, has a GDP per capita of $21,615.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A woman with a dog stands in front of the Parliament building in Belgrade, Serbia.

Serbia

Total investments: $452 million

Overall rank: 23

Serbia, whose economy is primarily based on service sector, is witnessing a big jump in foreign investment.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of Riga, Latvia.

Latvia

Total investments: $299 million

Overall rank: 24

Latvia, which enjoys high standard of living, has booming trade relations with its neighbouring countries.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
Petrusse River in Luxembourg.

Luxembourg

Total investments: $293 million

Overall rank: 25

Luxembourg, one of the richest countries in the world, has some of the most well-connected roads in the globe.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
A view of the Presidential Palace in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Georgia

Total investments: $288 million

Overall rank: 26

Georgia, whose economy was badly hit after civil strife in the 1990s, has seen its trade bounce back.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
People walk after snowfall in the city of Bulqize, some 140km north of capital Tirana, Albania.

Albania

Total investments: $280 million

Overall rank: 27

Albania, which is rich in natural resources, is investing in its infrastructure to boost trade and economy.

Click NEXT to read more...

28 countries spending most on road infrastructure

September 19, 2013 08:56 IST
View of capital Tallinn, Estonia.

Estonia

Total investments: $210 million

Overall rank: 28

Estonia, which is projected to become the most productive country in the European Union by 2050, has a GDP per capita of $21.200.