Rural roads can now be built cheaper, using local materials

Governments can now build rural roads using less expensive, locally sourced materials. This means cheaper road construction in developing areas, making more roads possible with the same budget.

For decades, building roads in developing countries meant importing expensive, standardized materials. This guide offers engineering principles for using local soil and aggregates. It means more roads can be built for less money, connecting remote communities and improving local economies. The World Bank is essentially giving governments permission to stop importing expensive gravel and start using what's in the ground.