Engineers call for investment in infrastructure

Economic recovery in Scotland is at risk because the country's infrastructure is in need of repair and modernisation, a report has suggested.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (Ice) said significant investment was needed for the transport network and energy and water supply systems.

It also called for greater borrowing powers to be given to the Scottish government.

It said this would help create a "high-quality infrastructure".

The organisation's State of the Nation report graded six crucial elements of the country's infrastructure - water, transport, waste, energy, education and skills and managing flood risk.

Under its scale, a Grade 'A' meant "fit for the future", while a grade 'E' meant the infrastructure was "unfit for purpose".

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SA to spend billions on transport

Transport infrastructure development over the next few years is set to radically change the way South Africans travel, thanks to a multi-billion rand boost from the government.

Amounting to R66-billion over the next year, and rising to R80-billion by 2013/14, the improvements are set to also create numerous jobs and tourism opportunities.

The improvements will be spread across the country, with both urban and rural parts set to benefit. This comes as current transport infrastructure developments have been recognised as being world-class quality.

"Given the deep-seated historical legacy of apartheid-inspired geographical marginalisation of the majority of South Africans, and decades of underinvestment in public transport, government is going all out to ensure safe, efficient, reliable and affordable public transport," Transport Sibusiso Ndebele said on Wednesday.

Achievements

"Over the past few years, a major capital injection into transport-related infrastructure and operations has begun to produce some important results."

The second report card on infrastructure released yesterday by the South African Association of Civil Engineering states that the country's best performing infrastructure was its aviation infrastructure, which was awarded the report's only "A".

According to the report, South Africa's national road network was "good to excellent", with the SA National Roads Agency (Sanral), Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) and the National Ports Authority performing exceptionally well.

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