Reductions in road building budgets are being implemented in various departments in France, in a bid to cut overall spending. In 2009 some €4.5 billion was spent on the road budget, compared with €3.9 billion planned for 2012. Various local authorities were able to make small cuts in roads budgets until now. However the budget reductions are now becoming more direct as local authorities are seeing their resources fall and social costs rise. Looking ahead through 2012, the outlook is not favourable and for example in Calvados department, three projects for dual carriageways have already been cancelled which is expected to have a corresponding impact on the contracting sector.
