The total global pipeline for roads projects stands at US$3.8 trillion, according to ResearchAndMarkets.com. While North-East Asia accounts for the bulk of that figure, at $1 trillion, South Asia has a $571 billion pipeline, ahead of South-East Asia ($502 billion) and North America ($405 billion).

These large-scale highway and expressway projects aim to reduce congestion, cut travel times, and unlock regional economic potential.

In today鈥檚 Construction Briefing, here is a look at six major projects around the world that are already underway, what鈥檚 involved, and who is building them:

1) Via Carpathia: Advancing Eastern Europe鈥檚 road connectivity

Overview: The Via Carpathia is a trans-European road corridor designed to enhance north-south connectivity across Eastern Europe. Stretching from Klaip臈da, Lithuania, to Thessaloniki, Greece, the route crosses several countries, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.

Roadworks focus: The project involves constructing new expressways and upgrading existing roads to meet modern standards.

Key developments include:

• Poland: Expansion of the S19 expressway, with multiple sections under construction to improve traffic flow and safety.
• Slovakia: Development of the R4 expressway, enhancing connections between the Polish and Hungarian borders.
• Hungary: Upgrades to the M30 motorway, facilitating smoother transit towards Romania.
• Romania: Upgrades to the A6 motorway to improve cross-border traffic into Bulgaria.

Timeline and cost: Construction timelines vary by country, but several major sections 鈥� such as Poland鈥檚 S19 and Slovakia鈥檚 R4 expressways 鈥� are due for completion between 2025 and 2028. Poland alone has allocated over 鈧�10 billion to Via Carpathia works, partly funded through the EU鈥檚 Connecting Europe Facility. Hungary鈥檚 M30 section, completed in 2021, cost around 鈧�1 billion. Further investments are ongoing across Romania, Bulgaria, and the Baltics.

Contractors and delivery: Work on the corridor is being delivered by a range of regional and multinational firms. In Poland, major contractors include Budimex, Strabag, and Porr, with supervision from the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA). Slovakia鈥檚 R4 is being developed by Eurovia and Doprastav. Contract awards are generally tendered under EU procurement rules or local public-private partnership models.

Expected outcomes: The Via Carpathia aims to bolster regional development, reduce travel times, and improve road safety across Eastern Europe.

Construction workers film the start-up of the tunnel boring machine 鈥淜arpatka鈥� ahead of the construction of a 2km-long double tunnel on the future S19 highway between Rzesz贸w Po艂udnie and Babica, Poland (Image: Acciona)

2) Lower Thames Crossing: A new road link beneath the Thames

Overview: The Lower Thames Crossing is a major infrastructure project in the UK, set to deliver a 23km (14.3 miles) new road to ease congestion at the nearby Dartford Crossing and improve connectivity between the counties of Kent and Essex. It includes a 4.3km (2.6-mile) twin-bore tunnel under the River Thames鈥攖he longest road tunnel in the UK when complete.

Roadworks focus: The project will provide three lanes of traffic in each direction and connect the M25 near North Ockendon with the A2/M2 near Rochester, creating a new strategic link in the UK鈥檚 transport network.

Key components include:

• Tunnel construction 鈥� Bored twin tunnels beneath the Thames, with extensive approach roads and tunnel portals at either end.
• New highways 鈥� Upgrades to surrounding road infrastructure, including junctions and viaducts, to integrate with existing routes and support future growth.

Timeline and cost: Construction is expected to begin in 2026, subject to final approvals, with opening planned for the early 2030s. The estimated cost of the project is up to 拢9 billion (US$11 billion).

Contractors: National Highways is overseeing the scheme, with construction contracts awarded Balfour Beatty (for roads north of the Thames), Skanska (the roads in Kent), and a joint venture between Bouygues Travaux Publics and Murphy for construction of the twin-bored tunnels. A joint venture between Jacobs, Arcadis and Cowi is serving as technical partner on the project.

Expected outcomes: Once complete, the Lower Thames Crossing is projected to reduce pressure on the Dartford Crossing by over 13 million vehicles per year, improve resilience across the Thames network, and support economic growth across the South East and beyond.

A digital render of the Lower Thames Crossing, UK. New roads and a twin-bore tunnel under the Thames will link the M25 motorway near Brentwood to the A2 east of Gravesend (Photo: National Highways)

3) Gordie Howe International Bridge: Creating common ground between US-Canada

Overview: The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge under construction, spanning the Detroit River to connect Detroit, Michigan, US, with Windsor, Ontario, Canada. It aims to provide a more efficient route for commercial and passenger vehicles.

Roadworks focus: The bridge will feature six lanes for vehicular traffic and a dedicated multi-use path for pedestrians and cyclists.

Key components include:

• Approach roads 鈥� Construction of new interchanges and connections to existing highways, such as Interstate 75 in the US and Highway 401 in Canada.
• Border facilities: Development of expansive customs and border patrol plazas on both sides to streamline cross-border processing.

Timeline and cost: Principal construction commenced in 2018 and the main span was connected last July, with full completion anticipated in September 2025. The project鈥檚 estimated cost is about US$4.6 billion.

Contractors: The Bridging North America consortium, including ACS Infrastructure, Fluor, and Aecon, is tasked with construction. Aecom is signed on as lead designer and design manager.

Expected outcomes: The bridge is expected to enhance trade efficiency, reduce traffic congestion, and provide a reliable alternative to the existing Ambassador Bridge. The Gordie Howe will be publicly owned by the Canadian government through the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which will be a departure from the private ownership set-up of the Ambassador bridge it is replacing.

The main span of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between the US and Canada makes its connection (Image: Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority)

4) Queensland鈥檚 multi-billion-dollar Bruce Highway upgrade

The Bruce Highway, stretching 1,673km (1,039.6 miles) from Brisbane to Cairns across Australia, is undergoing a significant transformation with a combined investment from the Australian and Queensland governments. The initiative aims to enhance safety, flood resilience, and capacity along this corridor.

In May 2024, the Australian Government announced AU$7.2 billion in new funding for the Bruce Highway, adding to the billions already invested in the route since the upgrade programme began in 2013. This marks the single largest federal investment in the highway鈥檚 history.

The Queensland Government will contribute the remaining AU$1.8 billion to that tranche, keeping with the project鈥檚 goal of the local government picking up 20% of the cost with the federal government funding 80%.

The project is intended to bring the entire highway up to a minimum three-star safety rating before the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, which will be hosted Brisbane.

Key components include:

• Elevating flood-prone sections, notably the Goorganga Plains south of Proserpine;
• Constructing new and improved bridges;
• Implementing safety enhancements such as wider shoulders, improved intersections, and additional overtaking lanes.

Since the programme鈥檚 inception in 2013, completed works include 130 new bridges, 66 new or upgraded rest areas, and 100 new overtaking lanes.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King described the upgrade as 鈥渢he single largest investment ever into the Bruce Highway,鈥� adding that it brings the federal government鈥檚 total outlay for the route to more than AU$17 billion. An estimated cost for the entire project was not available.

Expected outcomes: The Bruce Highway upgrade is a cornerstone of Queensland鈥檚 broader AU$104 billion infrastructure programme, aimed at supporting economic growth and preparing for future demand across the state.

The Bruce Highway, looking south, with Tibrogargan of the the Glasshouse Mountains in the background, Queensland, Australia (Image: Rob Hill via AdobeStock - stock.adobe.com)

5) Two US states鈥� US$25bn roadworks programmes

The US states of Michigan and Arizona have proposed a combined US$25 billion in highway and roadworks funding across two multi-year programmes set to run into the late 2020s.

In Michigan, in the north-central region of the country, the state鈥檚 Department of Transportation has proposed an $11-billion Five-Year Transportation Program spanning 2024 to 2028. The plan includes resurfacing, reconstruction and preventive maintenance projects aimed at improving safety and extending the life of the state鈥檚 road network.

In the US Southwest, Arizona鈥檚 Department of Transportation has outlined a $12.7-billion Five-Year Transportation Facilities Construction Program covering fiscal years 2026 to 2030.

About $4.5 billion is earmarked for areas outside densely populated Maricopa and Pima counties, with funding drawn from federal and state sources, along with user-generated revenues.

Key projects include:

In Arizona 鈥�

• $240 million to widen I-17 from Sunset Point to SR 69
• $137 million to widen I-10 south of Phoenix
• $110 million to widen SR 260 east of Payson

In Michigan 鈥�

• Reconstruction of US 31 in multiple segments during 2027鈥�28
• Capital preventive maintenance on a 5.4-mi stretch of US 31 in 2026
• Resurfacing 12 mi of M-22 in Manistee County

Final adoption of the Arizona programme is expected in June 2025.

Michigan鈥檚 plan was finalised at the end of 2024.

6) Bangalore鈥揤ijayawada Expressway: Accelerating South India鈥檚 connectivity

Overview: The Bangalore鈥揤ijayawada Expressway is a major 518km (33 miles), six-lane road in southern India, designed to enhance connectivity between the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The expressway aims to significantly reduce travel time between the two cities, fostering economic growth and regional development. Once the road is complete, travel times should fall from 12-13 hours to 8-9 hours, as well as cutting the distance from 630km (391 miles).

Roadworks focus: The expressway is planned as an access-controlled corridor, incorporating both greenfield and brownfield sections. The larger part of the road (64%) is a greenfield development, and runs 343km (213 miles) from Kodikonda to Addanki. The remaining sections to Bangaluru and Vijayawada will be brownfield.

Key components include:

• Route: The expressway will commence near Kodikonda in Andhra Pradesh, passing through key towns such as Kadiri, Pulivendula, and Kanigiri, before terminating near Vijayawada.
• Infrastructure elements: Construction includes multiple interchanges, service roads, and rest areas to facilitate smooth traffic flow and commuter convenience.

Timeline and cost: The foundation stone for the project was laid in March 2024, with construction divided into 14 packages. The expressway is expected to be completed by 2026/27. The estimated cost of the project is approximately 鈧�14,000 crore (US$1.7 billion).

Contractors: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is overseeing the project, with contracts awarded to various construction firms including: Dilip Buildcon, Raj Path Infracon, Megha Engineering & Infrastructures (MEIL), KNR Constructions, and the Max Infra-Bekem Infra Projects joint venture.

Expected outcomes: In addition to cutting travel time, the project promises to boost trade and tourism in southern and eastern India.