International Road Federation

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International Road Federation

The International Road Federation is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation. www.irfofficial.org
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The International Road Federation (IRF: www.irfnet.ch) is a nongovernmental, not-for-profit organisation with the mission to encourage and promote development and maintenance of better, safer and more sustainable roads and road networks. Working together with its members and associates, the IRF promotes social and economic benefits that flow from well-planned and environmentally sound road transpo

rt networks. It helps put in place technological solutions and management practices that provide maximum economic and social returns from national road investments. The IRF has a major role to play in all aspects of road policy and development worldwide. For governments and financial institutions, the IRF provides a wide base of expertise for planning road development strategy and policy. For its members, the IRF is a business network, a link to external institutions and agencies, such as the United Nations and the European Union, and a business card of introduction to government officials and decision makers. For the community of road professionals, the IRF is a source of support and information for national road associations, advocacy groups, companies and institutions dedicated to the development of road infrastructure. Through the International Road Educational Foundation the IRF awards grants to graduate engineers and other transportation professionals from around the world in support of full-time academic training. With this the IRF actively supports the future generations who will build the road networks. With a wide network across over eighty countries on six continents, the IRF believes that it can make a difference by providing best practices and expert advice to today’s multi-faceted world of transport.

05/06/2026

As mobility systems become more connected, automated and data-driven, the road sector must develop the skills, tools and governance frameworks needed to manage this transition effectively.

Through its involvement in the ReSKILLING Project and FEDORA Projects, the International Road Federation (IRF) is helping shape the future of skills development and integrated road management across Europe.

ReSKILLING Project is preparing the mobility workforce and businesses for the deployment of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM), ensuring professionals have the knowledge and strategies required to adapt to rapidly evolving technologies.

FEDORA Project is advancing the use of data-driven mobility management through the development of a federated data spaces platform designed to support advanced traffic management and simulation.

Together, these initiatives are strengthening the foundations for safer, smarter and more efficient transport systems by connecting people, data and infrastructure.

04/06/2026

Join the next IRF Circle of Excellence webinar, Optimising Infrastructure Performance and Traffic Flow Through Innovation, and hear directly from Award-winning organisations that are delivering measurable results in some of the world's most complex transport environments: 4321673b-ec5a-4f74-8a89-3349ad8d07d5@a1a64581-d243-49e5-9b4f-46c55c65d3b4" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4321673b-ec5a-4f74-8a89-3349ad8d07d5@a1a64581-d243-49e5-9b4f-46c55c65d3b4

Road agencies are under growing pressure to move more people and goods safely and efficiently while making better use of existing infrastructure.

How can operators improve traffic flow, strengthen incident response, optimise bridge and tunnel operations and harness AI-driven technologies without relying solely on costly network expansion?

Join the upcoming webinar to learn more about:

🔹 Real-time traffic management strategies improving performance on major expressway bridges
🔹Large-scale urban road engineering solutions transforming congested corridors
🔹Integrated incident management platforms enhancing operational efficiency across roads and tunnels
🔹AI-powered detection technologies enabling faster, smarter traffic operations

The upcoming discussion will offer practical lessons, implementation insights and proven approaches that road authorities, operators and mobility professionals can apply within their own networks.

See you on 18 June at 14:00 CEST!

For more information, visit: https://irfofficial.org/event/irf-circle-of-excellence-optimising-infrastructure-performance-and-traffic-flow-through-innovation/

04/06/2026

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According to data from the , Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa together make up only 16.7% of the global road network.

This imbalance becomes even clearer when comparing each region’s share of the global road network with its share of total land area. This highlights how much of the developing world’s territory remains underserved by road infrastructure.

You can read the full article on road network distribution here: https://worldroadstatistics.org/mind-the-infrastructure-gap-low-income-countries-share-only-1-7-of-the-worlds-roads-copy/

For more insights like this, visit the : https://worldroadstatistics.org/category/wrs-snapshots/

Updates to the are made possible by TotalEnergies Foundation and Michelin Corporate Foundation.

03/06/2026

The IRF 2026 Annual Conference programme is designed to tackle the sector’s most pressing challenges through practical discussions on trust, delivery and innovation.

Join global leaders, technical experts and decision-makers will explore what it takes to deliver safer roads, secure sustainable funding, strengthen climate resilience, modernise asset maintenance and prepare infrastructure for an increasingly digital and automated future.

Join the conversation. Register today: https://irfofficial.org/irf-2026-annual-conference-registration/

For more details,. visit: https://irfofficial.org/irf-2026-annual-conference/

03/06/2026

Safer roads begin with independent expertise.

In Tanzania, IRF Lead Trainer Eur Ing Miguel-Angel Serrano Santos is delivering its Road Safety Auditors Training Programme to strengthen local capacity for safer road infrastructure.

Through the IRF International Registry for Road Safety Auditors supported by TotalEnergies Foundation, participants gain the knowledge and competencies required to conduct formal and independent road safety audits across every stage of a project.

Independent road safety audits play a critical role in identifying risks before they lead to crashes. By ensuring that audits are conducted by qualified professionals who are separate from the design team, the process promotes transparency, accountability and a stronger focus on protecting vulnerable road users.

02/06/2026

Keeping road networks safe, reliable and cost-effective requires not only investment, but also innovation.

As part of their visit programme in China, IRF Director General Gonzalo Alcaraz and Head of Advocacy and Outreach Alice Yiu met with the team at RoadMainT Co Ltd., a valued member of the IRF, to explore the latest developments in highway maintenance technology and asset management.

RoadMainT Co Ltd is a recognised leader in the field of road maintenance, supporting transport agencies through advanced road condition assessment, maintenance planning, digital tools and engineering expertise. Its work is helping road authorities make smarter, data-informed decisions that extend asset life, improve performance and optimise the use of public resources.

The discussions offered valuable insights into how technology and data are transforming the management of road infrastructure, enabling more proactive and efficient maintenance strategies. We were particularly interested in learning how innovation can help agencies address growing demands on infrastructure while improving resilience and service quality.

We thank the RoadMainT Co Ltd team for sharing their expertise and perspectives. We look forward to continuing our collaboration and helping bring RoadMainT’s experience and innovations to the wider IRF community.

02/06/2026

Strengthening international cooperation in road infrastructure and transport development was at the heart of a productive meeting between IRF Director General Gonzalo Alcaraz, Head of Advocacy and Outreach Alice Yiu and leaders of the Highway Bureau of China’s Ministry of Transport.

We extend our thanks to Director General Zhou and Director Zhang for their warm welcome and valuable exchange of views.

As a valued member of the IRF, the Highway Bureau plays a vital role in the planning, management and development of one of the world’s largest highway networks, connecting communities, industries and markets across China.

We appreciated Director General Zhou’s insights into the Bureau’s priorities for enhancing transport efficiency, improving road safety, strengthening logistics and trade connectivity and building greater resilience to the impacts of a changing climate. These priorities underscore the essential role of road infrastructure in supporting economic growth and sustainable development.

Our discussions also highlighted the importance of sharing knowledge and practical experience across borders.

The IRF looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Highway Bureau and helping to bring China’s expertise and innovations to the wider global road and transport community.

02/06/2026

IRF Director General Gonzalo Alcaraz and Head of Advocacy and Outreach Alice Yiu were delighted to visit the Transport Planning and Research Institute (TPRI) of China’s Ministry of Transport, a fellow IRF member, and extend their thanks for the warm welcome and generous hospitality.

As one of China’s leading transport research institutions, TPRI has made significant contributions to the development of national transport policy, strategic planning, and integrated transport systems. Its work continues to support the modernisation and sustainable development of China’s transport network.

The visit provided valuable insights into the role of evidence- and knowledge-based decision-making in shaping China’s transport development. We were pleased to learn more about TPRI’s research and analytical work, which helps inform transport policy and investment decisions and to explore opportunities to share China’s experience and expertise with the wider IRF global community.

We look forward to continued cooperation in the future.

01/06/2026

Following the IRF 2026 General Assembly, IRF Members have elected four new members to the IRF Board of Directors, reinforcing the Board’s international expertise and strengthening representation from across the road and mobility sector.

We are pleased to welcome Tom Alkim from MAPtm, Ramokone (Mirriam) Ramoba PrEng from the South African Road Federation (SARF), Bin Ran from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Miodrag Poledica "Putevi Srbije" d.o.o. - LLC "Putevi Srbije" to the Board.

Their combined experience spanning infrastructure management, academia, road administration and industry leadership will support the Federation’s mission to advance safer, more sustainable and more connected transport systems worldwide.

Congratulations to all newly elected Board members.

01/06/2026

Project Manager Iona Kirkpatrick represented the IRF at the EvoRoads Project General Assembly in Riga, Latvia, where project partners came together to review progress and align the next phases of this ambitious initiative.

During the meeting, Iona presented the development of the EvoRoads Multiplier Group, a network of external experts that will help validate project outputs, share best practices, and strengthen engagement with key stakeholders across Europe and beyond.

The EvoRoads project supports the EU's Vision Zero ambition through innovative, data-driven approaches to road safety. By combining AI-powered analytics, digital infrastructure monitoring, and proactive risk assessment tools, the project aims to help road operators improve safety performance and better protect vulnerable road users.

Thank you to the Riga City Council for hosting us in the historic City Hall and to all project partners for the productive discussions and collaborative spirit that continue to drive the project forward.

For more details about the Assembly, visit: https://irfofficial.org/2026/06/01/irf-strengthens-road-safety-collaboration-through-evoroads-partnership/

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