Features

In emerging economies around the world, rural roads often play a key economic role as the first link in a complex agricultural supply chain.

David CA Phillips reports on the changing structure of the global construction equipment industry. In 2007, the year of peak historical demand and before the onset of the international financial crisis, estimated total sales of key equipment types stood at just over 1,000,000 units, valued at approximately US$100 billion. By 2009 sales had fallen to around 600,000 units valued at around $65 billion. The consequences of the global financial recession were dramatic and immediate, and remain with us today, and

An upfront combination of both cost savings and reduced environmental impact are now possible as a result of Kraton Polymers' continued investment in polymer innovation, says the company. "The new polymers enable a reduction in the bound pavement thickness by allowing the use of highly polymer modified bitumen (PMB) base course binders without excessive viscosities or incompatibility problems. The step change improvements in binder strength, flexibility and toughness result in a dramatic improvement in asph

Bitumen has been used for thousands of years, but now a wide variety of products are available that can be added to it to produce blends with improved properties. According to the Refined Bitumen Association (RBA) bitumen is the oldest known engineering material. Indeed, the organisation says that its versatility as a construction material is unparalleled, and having been used as an adhesive, sealant and waterproofing agent for over 8,000 years, its uses include the construction and maintenance of roads, ai

The Kingdom of Bahrain will host the 3rd IRF Middle East Regional Congress & Exhibition which runs January 9-11, 2012.

Recycling materials offers the road ahead for highway construction - * Don Brock writes. Recycling has been used in the US for over 50 years in various industries. Today, steel is 100% recycled, and many other products that we have can be recycled.Environmental groups have aggressively pushed industries to recycle more, but it is either economically driven or legislatively driven.In the highway industry it has predominately been economically driven and discouraged by stakeholders such as aggregate producers

Harsco Infrastructure has provided self-climbing formwork (SCF), which is helping ensure quick and safe access during the construction of a 320m tall pylon for the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge.

Composite bridge specialist falsework, Paraslim, from RMD Kwikform is being used to construct a viaduct and rail over-bridge in Wales. Paraslim is supporting the £35 million (US$55.7 million) A487 Porthmadog, Minffordd and Tremadog Bypass constructed by a joint venture partnership of Balfour Beatty and Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK.

Actions are planned on road safety but are they enough? - *Charles Melhuish and *Alan Ross report. Deaths and injuries on the world's roads are now a major health concern. Road crashes now cause around 1.3 million deaths and injure or disable as many as 50 million persons globally each year. The vast majority of these deaths and injuries (over 90%) occur in low- and medium- income countries adding to their already overburdened health facilities as well as adversely affecting economic and social development

Paul Nordengen of South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) introduces a comprehensive self-regulation initiative to improve road wear, road safety and transport productivity in South Africa

There is an array of future vehicle solutions in development - Mike Woof reports. Ever since Henry Ford's Model T showed that the motor car could provide transport for ordinary people rather than being an exclusive toy of the rich, vehicle numbers have exploded. In every country around the world, vehicle ownership continues to grow.

As part of its strong commitment to promoting the objectives of the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020), IRF will be convening a major international symposium in Bucharest, Romania from 10-11 May, 2011. The symposium, based around the theme Providing Infrastructure that improves Road Safety, will take the form of a high-level, two-day interactive gathering, built around six sessions addressing key themes.

The US infrastructure network requires urgent attention - * T Peter Ruane. America's transportation infrastructure was once the "shining light on top of the hill." Major investments in a national highway, bridge, transit, airport, port and waterway system during the 20th century paid great dividends. The free and efficient flow of goods and people across the 50 states led to unparalleled economic expansion. The mobility and prosperity resulting from an interconnected infrastructure was a model for the world