Features

One of the largest construction programmes in Europe is being carried out to get a Russian resort ready for the Winter Olympics. Patrick Smith reports

Horizontal and high-tech in-road markings are all being used in a bid to keep roads safe as Patrick Smith reports. Many modern roads, especially in urban areas, are equipped with the latest technology to guide drivers and, more importantly, improve safety.

Barrier and crash cushion systems can make a great deal of difference to roadway safety, with new technology offering major benefits to road users. In North America and Western Europe, concrete centre line dividers are being used for many major highways as these provide a durable solution for preventing cross-over accidents with large vehicles such as heavy trucks. It is worth noting too that other countries are now adopting concrete barriers for highway centre line dividers also, with this system being use

Highway maintenance and repair is an easy target for cuts in highway budgets, but there are cost-effective measures that can be adopted as Patrick Smith reports. Road maintenance is an increasingly important industry that spans a worldwide market. Awareness of the need for a stable and sustainable international infrastructure, maintenance and creative rural road technologies are taking a stronger role as viable sources for a cost-effective means of preserving, developing and prolonging the life of roads wit

The machine control market is evolving fast and is increasingly becoming part of a much wider construction site management concept, Mike Woof reports. Machine control technology has come a long way in the past 20 years and the development of 2D and 3D systems has been rapid in the construction sector.

Ferocious daytime temperatures can provide a tough challenge to construction firms working in desert conditions in Egypt's south. Despite the high daytime temperatures however, Egyptian contractor Orascom has managed to complete an airport project on budget and ahead of schedule, while meeting the client's tight specifications.

Improvements worth US$30 million are being carried out at Miami International Airport. The work includes runway resurfacing with specialist contractors having been brought in to handle the project. This is a busy facility handling some 34 million passengers/year and the work is being carried out over a period of 454 days in all, starting in September 2009 and due to finish in December 2010. The focus of attention is the upgrade to the airport's second longest runway, 8R 26L as well as the adjoining M and N

A huge logistics operation has been carried out successfully at New York's JFK Airport. One of the busiest runways at one of the world's busiest airports is now open to air traffic again, following a 120 day closure for resurfacing.

High productivity and value for money are two benefits claimed by the new generation of soil compactors - Mike Woof reports. The market for soil compaction machines looks to be growing more competitive as new manufacturers enter the sector. This is particularly noticeable now that Chinese firm LiuGong has moved into the sector. Meanwhile new design concepts are also allowing firms to develop much larger and more powerful machines than ever before. The choice for contractors is a wide one and manufacturers a

A new generation of asphalt compaction technology is coming to market, reports Mike Woof. The market for rubber tyred compactors has grown in recent years, prompting manufacturers to develop a new generation of machines.

Earthmoving machines remain the backbone of construction operations - writes Mike Woof. ADTs, excavators and wheeled loaders play pivotal roles in most construction jobs with the earthmoving stage providing a key component of most projects.

Efficient earthmoving is allowing productive road construction in the Egyptian desert, Mike Woof reports. Despite ferocious desert temperatures, efficient earthmoving operations will help build new road links in Southern Egypt. Close to the Egyptian city of Assuit, the contractor Orascom is working on three key desert highway projects that will provide vital transport connections for the country's growing economy.

When the main commuter route into Cardiff, the Welsh capital, began to suffer from acute deformation, the Vale of Glamorgan Council required a durable and faster alternative to hot rolled asphalt to ensure minimum disruption for local road users.