Features

The use of new technology has helped pave the way for a new US racetrack Saving construction costs and meeting tight tolerances, sophisticated technology has helped deliver a quality racetrack surface within tight time constraints. The National Corvette Museum (NCM) in Bowling Green, Kentucky, lies close to Interstate 65 and now features a brand new racetrack, constructed with the assistance of the latest machine control technologies.

Its incredible versatility means that the articulated dumptruck (ADT) has become a popular piece of equipment for quarrying or earthmoving applications. For quarrying in particular, the machines are highly useful as they are able to cope with steeper ramp hauls and tougher terrain than rigid haulers offering similar payloads.

A highway bridge in Switzerland has been refurbished with help from hydrodemolition equipment supplied by Aquajet The firm’s latest Rotolance 2500 was used alongside an Aquacutter 710 VE evolution on the Viaduc de Chillon link, above Lake Geneva. The machines were used by Zurich-based hydrodemolition specialist contractor, Walo Hydrodynamik, to remove more than 25,000m³ of concrete deck on the bridge.

Wirtgen is gearing up its operations in the concrete paving market - Mike Woof writes Concrete paving is a technology developed and pioneered in the US, so it is no surprise that US firms GOMACO, Guntert & Zimmerman, Power Curbers and Power Pavers, have had such a high profile in this market over the years. However one European firm, Wirtgen, is a serious competitor in the sector, the only non-US supplier to the market.

Changes to the way bitumen is produced and traded mean that traditional ways of specifying – and buying - it may not be enough - Frank Albrecht, MD of Albr3cht Supply Concepts, explained why to Kristina Smith Traditionally, we have specified bitumen using two values: the penetration (pen) and ring and ball figures which define the hardness of the bitumen and its softening point respectively. Taking that approach today is risky, warns Frank Albrecht, managing director of Albr3cht Supply Concepts. “It’s not

Indeco breakers have been instrumental in excavating the Serra Rotonda Tunnel along the new Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway in southern Italy - Lucio Garofalo reports The A3 Salerno-Reggio-Calabria highway runs for some 443km, linking the A1 Milano-Napoli with the southernmost part of the country. A tunnel is a major link on this highway and was originally built between 1966 and 1974 in an area where road construction can be a challenge due to orography, geology and seismicity. Since 2001, the A3 has bee

By supplying the 3800 CR as a rear loader, Wirtgen not only offers an efficient and flexible solution for in-situ cold recycling: the 3800 CR also excels as a high-performance cold milling machine. The Wirtgen cold recycler‘s versatile applications are just what the US road construction contractor Dunn prizes, for they enable the company to use the machine for a wide range of tasks, fully utilizing its capacity. ”The work is really challenging, with varying site conditions, complex designs, and tough mater

Close to Guerrero Negro in the west of Mexico the world's largest salt field is located. There two Wirtgen Surface Miners 2200 SM produce enormous amounts of the "white gold" - economically and in top quality. The company Exportadora del Sal S.A. (ESSA) – a joint venture between the Mexican government and Mitsubishi Corporation – has produced salt on a large scale in the Ojo de Liebre Lagoon since 1957. With a total area of 33,000 ha, this gigantic evaporation pond is now the largest salt works of its kind

This month we look at how warm mix is helping to pave dirt roads, a new way to tackle potholes, and bring news of a new distribution centre for the UK - Kristina Smith reports The creation of a new mix design, incorporating MWV’s warm mix additive Evotherm, is providing cost-effective solutions for dirt roads in the US’s Charleston County. The first stretch to be paved with the new porous paving in April this year, Joseph White Road in the town of Adams Run, resulted in the estimated US$1.1 million construc

Asphalt plant manufacturers report major supply deals for highway and construction projects - Pat Smith writes International asphalt plant manufacturers have been reporting major successes with their products, which are now working on highway and airport projects worldwide.

Formwork firm Pilosio is taking corporate responsibility and sustainability very seriously indeed through its peace awards - Kristina Smith reports Italian formwork specialist Pilosio held its fourth annual Building Peace Award in the historic setting of Venice’s Scuola Grande on Friday 12th September. This year’s winner was politician Samia Yaba Nkrumah, the daughter of Ghana’s first democratically elected president, highlighting her planned project to build a new library and learning space in Akosombo, ne

New financing models have been used to deliver key transport links in the US - * Patrick D Harder and Brandon J Davis Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) public-private partnership (PPP) programme has made impressive progress, setting precedents for US transportation planning and funding. On March 26th 2014, FDOT opened 16km of new reversible express lanes as part of its US$1.8 billion I-595 Corridor Roadway Improvements Project. Just a few months later, on August 3rd 2014, FDOT opened twin tunnel

A new two-lane road has been built in Meghalaya, India, providing a challenging project for the construction team The new road lies at a comparatively high altitude and provides a bypass around Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya and which is one of the smallest states in India. Shillong is located 1,496m above sea level, with the highest point being Shillong Peak at almost 2,000m, and the area has a much cooler climate than the rest of tropical India. Shillong is also only 55km away from Mawsynram, which is

East Africa offers considerable potential for transport infrastructure expansion and investment - Shem Oirere reports Infrastructure, infrastructure and more infrastructure is what is needed to make East Africa the favoured destination and Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda have unveiled grand plans to enhance the infrastructure both nationally and regionally.” This is how market analyst Deloitte introduced its 2014/15 budget analysis for the four countries in July.