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PIARC (World Road Association), founded in 1909 and comprising 125 member governments from all over the world, is the global forum for exchange of knowledge and experience on roads, road transport policies and practices. With consultative status to the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, the Association is contributing to a stable and sustainable global development of the road and transport sector.

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Proceedings of World Road Congresses 1908-2019

PIARC organizes the World Road Congresses every four years since 1908.

The proceedings of the congresses from 1908 till 1995 have been digitized in PDF format. From 1999 to 2011 those of the congresses are available on DVD, the content of which has also been adapted in the form of websites. Since 2015, the proceedings are exclusively available on dedicated websites.

  • Abu Dhabi 2019

    The XXVIth World Road Congress was held in Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates, from 6 to 10 October 2019 under the theme "Connecting Cultures, Enabling Economies" . This XXVIth Congress confirmed its role as a major event for the road sector worldwide, bringing together more than 6,000 participants from 144 countries , more than 3,700 delegates and 42 ministers from around the world.

  • Seoul 2015

    The XXVth World Road Congress was held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, from November 2 to 6, 2015 , under the theme "Roads and Mobility - Creating New Value from Transport" . This XXVth has gathering 2 700 delegates and approximately 200 exhibitors

  • Mexico 2011

    In 1975, the XXIVth World Road Congress was held in Mexico-city . 36 years later, we are back to Mexico and Latin America. The motto of this XXIVth edition of the World Road Congress "Roads for a better life - Mobility, sustainability and development" highlights the importance of a safe and efficient road transportation system for the benefit of the communities and economies of all countries in the world.

  • Paris 2007

    Back to Paris for the 23rd edition of the PIARC World Road Congresses which marks the centenary after the 1st Congress in 1908. The theme of the Congress "The choice for sustainable development" reflects the challenge of the new millennium for road and road transport. This congress was organized in close cooperation between the World Road Association, responsible for the content and development of the programme, and the General Directorate of Roads of the Ministry for Ecology and Sustainable [...]

  • Durban 2003

    The XXIInd World Road Congress and associated exhibition, organized in Durban (South Africa), by the World Road Association and the Organising Committee of South Africa, brought together more than 3500 people from 108 countries.

  • Kuala Lumpur 1999

    The XXIst World Road Congress was held from 3 to 9 October 1999 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). 86 countries were represented.

  • Montreal 1995

    The XXth World Road Congress was held from 3 to 9 September 1995 in Montreal (Canada). 79 countries were represented. This congress highlighted new trends in the management of transport networks in general and road networks in particular. It was also during this congress that the Association changed its name to "World Road Association".

  • Marrakech 1991

    The XIXth World Road Congress was held from 22 to 28 September 1991 in Marrakech (Morocco). This was the first congress to be held in Africa. 53 countries were represented. New features were introduced in the organization of the working sessions, such as the so-called "ministers' session", in which 41 ministers participated and where they were able to share their points of view.

  • Brussels 1987

    The XVIIIth World Road Congress was held from 13 to 19 September 1987 in Brussels (Belgium) for the second time. 53 countries were represented and 6 major issues structured the Congress.

  • Sydney 1983

    The XVIIth World Road Congress was held from 9 to 15 October 1983 in Sydney (Australia). 41 countries were represented and 5 major issues structured the congress.

  • Vienna 1979

    The XVIth World Road Congress was held from 15 to 21 September 1979 in Vienna (Austria). 42 countries were represented and 5 major issues structured the topics discussed at the congress. For the first time during this event, a Congress fee was applied.

  • Mexico 1975

    The XVth World Road Congress was held from 11 to 18 October 1975 in Mexico City (Mexico). 37 countries were represented. 8 major questions structured this congress, including one exclusively on the environment.

  • Prague 1971

    The XIVth World Road Congress was held from 12 to 19 September 1971 in Prague (Czech Republic). 38 countries were represented. 7 main questions guided the congress.

  • Tokyo 1967

    The XIIIth World Road Congress was held from 5 to 11 November 1967 in Tokyo (Japan). 32 countries were represented. This congress saw the beginning of environmental concerns.

  • Rome 1964

    The XIIth World Road Congress was held from 9 to 16 May 1964 in Rome (Italy). 37 countries were represented.

  • Rio de Janeiro 1959

    The XIth World Road Congress was held from 21 to 26 September 1959 for the first time in South America, in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). 39 countries were represented. More specifically, this congress includes 2 sections: one on "Design, Construction and Maintenance of Road and Runways" and the other on "Roads in Relation to Traffic, Administration and Finance".

  • Istanbul 1955

    The Xth World Road Congress was held from 26 September to 1 October 1955 at Yildiz Palace in Istanbul (Turkey). 35 countries were represented. The technical program consisted of 6 questions.

  • Lisbon 1951

    The IXth World Road Congress was the first Congress to be held after the Second World War. It took place from 25 to 29 September 1951 in Lisbon (Portugal). 34 countries were represented and more than 1200 delegates attended.

  • The Hague 1938

    The VIIIth World Road Congress took place from 20 June to 2 July 1938 at the Kurhaus in Scheveningen (Netherlands). 53 States were represented and more than 2200 delegates were present. Road safety was one of the major topics, with the concern to better understand the cause of accidents and the need to harmonize statistics.

  • Munich 1934

    The VIIth World Road Congress was held in Munich (Germany) from 3 to 8 September 1934. The closing ceremony took place in Berlin at the Kroll Opera, on September 19. 64 countries were represented and more than 2100 delegates attended. For the first time, the issue of road safety is addressed clearly in a Question of the Congress. Just as for the Milan Congress, emphasis was placed on the importance of motorway development.

  • Washington 1930

    One year after the stock market crash, the VIth World Road Congress was held for the first time outside Europe. It took place in Washington, D.C. (United States) at the Constitution Hall and the US Chamber of Commerce from October 6 to 10, 1930. 68 nations were present as well as about 1400 delegates.

  • Milan 1926

    The Congress took place in Milan in the Sforza Castle and in the palace of the Law School from 6 to 10 September 1926. The closing session was held in Rome at the Capitol on 13 September 1926. 55 countries were represented, with 2000 participants approximately. The main Question discussed at the Milan Congress was the "Autostrade", i.e. special roads reserved solely for motor traffic.

  • Sevilla 1923

    After 10 years of interruption due to the Great War during which transport played a strategic role, the IVth Congress took place in spring 1923 in Seville (Spain). 55 nationalities were represented at that post-war Congress.

  • London 1913

    The Third edition of the World Road Congress took place in London from 23 to 27 June 1913. Fifty-two countries were represented, 44 of which by an official delegation of their government for that event, gathering 3,793 participants. For the first time, issues related to the organization of road services and road financing were discussed.

  • Brussels 1910

    The Second World Road Congress was held from 31 July to 7 August 1910 in Brussels (Belgium) during the Brussels International of the same year. 38 nationalities were represented, 32 of them by official delegates from their governments, for a total of 2,118 registered. Following the opening address by the Minister of Public Works, A. Delbeke, PIARC drew its motto "Via Vita".

  • Paris 1908

    The first World Road Congress was held from 11 to 21 October 1908 in Paris, France. This historic congress brought together more than 2000 participants and 28 countries were represented.