Asphalt milling, paving & compaction

Even asphaltmat

May 23, 2012

MOBA Mobile Automation says that its PAVE-IR system is designed to improve paving by offering a new, non-destructive method for detecting thermal segregation in real time. Segregation is a leading cause of premature failure in asphalt roads and the system uses infrared sensors to produce a thermal profile for the entire project. PAVE-IR is said to deliver real-time QC/QA data to the operator on a colour touch screen and stores the files for additional analysis in the office. The complete job is documented w

The UK’s first local authority controlled PFI road project has now opened to traffic Ireland focuses budget on road maintenance

May 18, 2012

Ireland's Ministry of Transport is focussing on road maintenance rather than building new links at present. With the country’s economy still struggling under a burden of debt, finances are limited. Around 30 road maintenance projects are planned to be carried out in in Ireland during 2012. The Irish Government intends to invest around €200 million/year on road maintenance until its finances improve. New road projects are being delayed and will be held back until 2016 or 2017.

Huge repair bill for Britain's potholes

May 15, 2012

Following one of the coldest winters in recent memory, Britain’s roads have stacked up an estimated £10 billion (€11.5 billion) repair bill just for potholes. These are caused by the freeze/thaw cycle: water seeps into cracks in the road surface, expands when frozen and then breaks up when it thaws. It has been estimated that in Britain there is at least one pothole for every 110m (sometimes many more) and that it will take at least 15 years to fix the problem.

Rise in road maintenance spending

May 15, 2012

A report on road maintenance in 13 European nations highlights Italy as spending the most on its network in 2007. According to the data, Italy spent €835 million on road maintenance followed by the Netherlands with €786 million, the UK with €753 million and Spain with €718 million.

Newly constructed low-noise asphalt surface fails

May 15, 2012

Questions are being asked over the construction of a new section of the A1 autobahn in Germany. The highway stretch is being scrutinised due to surface failures and lies close to the city of Bremen but has been open for less than three months.

Island highway maintenance and upgrade funding

May 14, 2012

Roads in the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, are set for a major upgrade following £364.6 million (E404 million) of government funding. The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding will allow the Isle of Wight Council to carry out vital improvements and maintenance to local roads over 25 years including road surface improvement and maintenance; footway and cycleway improvement; maintenance on bridges and other structures; upgrades to traffic signals, signs, street nameplates and road marking

In the fast lane

May 14, 2012

More than 500 million people worldwide watched the first Formula 1 motor race in India's history. The drivers were thrilled by the new asphalt circuit with its numerous bends and the peripheral area around the new race track at Greater Noida near the capital New Delhi, which were built by machinery from German company Vögele (a member of the Wirtgen Group).

Construction materials testing

May 14, 2012

Malta National Laboratory (MNL) has asked the UK’s TRL to help it establish a construction materials testing facility. This will allow MNL to become an independent test house on the island, and it will then be able to undertake testing of road materials to the required international standards. A team of TRL experts with extensive knowledge of civil engineering materials testing and pavement materials technology and design, as well as large-scale project management skills, will deliver the project in two p

150 years of geosynthetics production

May 10, 2012

German company HUESKER, which specialises in geosynthetics for the construction industry and textiles for industrial and agricultural applications, is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. The business concept of the classical cotton weaving mill was originally founded by H & J Huesker & Co in December 1861. In 2010, the International Geosynthetics Society committee presented HUESKER with the IGS Award for the development of high-strength geosynthetic reinforcements from innovative raw materials.

Gloucestershire road maintenance contract

May 10, 2012

Ringway Wiltshire, UK, has secured a seven-year contract for maintenance services on the A417/419 road which runs from the M4 motorway in north County Wiltshire to the M5 motorway in County Gloucestershire. It is worth an estimated