Training on Highway Improvement & Road Safety in Australia & New Zealand

In support of one of Bangladesh's transformative infrastructure projects—the ‘Improvement of Jatrabari Intersection to Patchchar-Bhanga through Mawa Road of Dhaka-Khulna (N-8) Highway’—the Road Transport and Highways Division organized a crucial international training program. Management and Training International (MTI) Ltd. was entrusted to manage and coordinate this program for 20 officials across two batches in Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.

This post highlights the study tour for 10 officials in Australia and New Zealand, held from August 7-15, 2018. The program was designed to provide deep insights into world-leading road safety strategies and highway management practices.

In New Zealand, the program was hosted by the NZ Transport Agency in Wellington. The sessions were intensive, covering New Zealand’s globally acclaimed road safety framework. Key topics included:

• The national road safety strategy and the 'Safer Journeys' vision.
• Application of the Safe System approach to safety interventions.
• Best practices for safer roads, roadsides, and speed management.
• Policies for active modes (walking, cycling) and protecting vulnerable road users.
• Frameworks for policy setting, rules, and driver licensing.

A practical visit to the Wellington Transport Operations Centre (WTOC) provided the delegation with a firsthand look at real-time traffic monitoring and incident management technologies.

In Australia, the learning journey continued with a high-level visit to the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities in Canberra, offering insights into federal-level policy and planning. To witness engineering excellence in a challenging environment, the team also visited the iconic Great Ocean Road in Melbourne. The tour was complemented by visits to cultural landmarks, providing a well-rounded experience.

This comprehensive program equipped the officials with cutting-edge knowledge and practical strategies, directly applicable to the landmark Dhaka-Khulna highway project and the broader goal of building safer, more efficient road networks across Bangladesh.