SKOPJE – Representatives of road authorities, ministries of transport and ministries of finance from across the Western Balkans took part in a two-day training in Skopje on tools that can help improve the planning, maintenance and financing of roads.
Held on 1-2 April 2026, the training focused on two practical tools: HDM-4, used to support decisions on road maintenance and investments, and Service Level Agreements (SLA), which help define what level of road service is expected and who is responsible for delivering it.
The event opened with welcome remarks by Ms Ljubinka Ivanovic, Road Project Officer at the Permanent Secretariat of the Transport Community, followed by sessions led by Ms Alexandra Spernol, Consulting Highway Engineer.
During the training, participants were introduced to the main functions of HDM-4 and how it can be used to compare investment options, assess maintenance needs and support better planning over the medium term. They also learned more about SLAs, including how these agreements can help governments and road managers set clear targets, track performance and improve accountability.
The programme combined presentations with practical exercises. Participants worked on project evaluation and network analysis, using sample data to test how different road investment and maintenance options can affect costs, priorities and results. The sessions also looked at how planning changes when budgets are limited.
By the end of the training, participants had gained a clearer understanding of how these tools can support better road management, more predictable budgeting and stronger cooperation between institutions responsible for roads and public finances.
The training also provided an opportunity to look ahead to future developments, including an outlook on HDM-5, the next generation of the road analysis tool.
