There are various types of road infrastructure financing, from "traditional" public funding through budgetary resource allocation relying on general taxes and duties, to "pure" private funding through limited recourse project financing based on road pricing or toll collection. But road investment needs are huge and allocation procedures reflect a fierce "competition" with other fundamental public services.

Road infrastructure remains however a key element for enhancing economic development. Many countries try to set up new forms of extra-budgetary or off-budgetary financing within the framework of an enlarged and renewed co-operation between public bodies and private companies.

Summarising the contributions provided by PIARC Committee on Financing and Economic Evaluation (C9) members and available publications, the report highlights the main options, and provides guidance, to select appropriate methods based on international best practice.