Finance & Funding

In China, construction has started on the US$4.55 billion renovation and expansion of the Jinan-Qingdao Expressway in the coastal province of Shandong.

Saudi Arabia will provide US$108 million through the Islamic Development Bank for reconstruction of two sections of the Dushanbe-Kulyab-Khorog-Murgab highway in Tajikistan. The sections are the Kulyab-Shuroabad and Shkev-Kalai Khumb, according to the Avesta news agency. The deal was announced after a meeting between Saudi ministry of finance officials and Tajik president Emomali Rahmon in the Saudi capital Riyadh in early January. Rahmon’s visit is considered a success for Tajik’s infrastructure in

Chinese investors are reported to be negotiating a contract to work on a section of federal highway BR-153 that goes from Anapolis in the Brazilian state of Goias to Palmas,n in Tocantins. The road is part of the Transbrasiliana Highway. The section was originally awarded to Brazilian construction firm Galvao Engenharia in September 2014, but the company never started expansion works.

Malaysian construction group Bina Puri has submitted bids for contracts worth US$768.73 million for work on eight infrastructure projects, including the Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway and the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway. The 31.8km Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway will reduce traffic along the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 from Ampang to Bandar Tasik Selatan. There will be three toll plazas in Alam Damai, Taman Bukit Teratai and Ampang Indah. The Damansara–Shah Alam E

The Indian Government is looking to upgrade its road links and also improve the condition of many road links right across the country, with a view to improving safety, as well as transportation. A series of infrastructure plans are being implemented, aimed at improving road conditions in the country. India’s Ministry for Road Transport and Highways is keen to improve road safety and reduce the fatality rate in the country. The Indian Government is establishing a Road Safety Authority that is being charged

Bidding is strong for the works to construct two bypasses in Slovakia. The road links are the 14.5km long northern Kosice bypass and the 8km Presov bypass. Both bypasses form part of the D1 motorway. The estimated value of both projects is nearly €580 million. Slovakia’s national motorway company NDS opened the bids for the Presov by-pass before the end of 2015. A consortium comprising local firm Duha and Salini Impregilo is amongst the bidders for the work.

Two major road projects are proceeding in Romania. Work on the Pitesti-Sibiu Highway is due for completion in 2023. This follows on from a €1.6 billion investment provided through the Large Infrastructure Operational Programme (LIOP). Romania’s Ministry of Transport has said that work on the project should commence on 1st January 2017.

Gabon is to benefit from loans that will help pay for two key infrastructure projects. One project is for a new highway that will improve transport connections between a number of towns and capital Libreville. The other project is for the construction of a new port facility at Owendo. The loan facility is worth US$125 million and is being provided by the Development Bank of Central African States. In all the projects will cost $200 million to carry out with the work on both planned for completion during 201

India is continuing with its progress in expanding its highway network. During the present fiscal year, the total length of new highway construction in India is anticipated to exceed 6,000km. This figure will compare well with the 2012-13 period, in which construction reached 5,700km. By 2019, the plan is to achieve a peak of 30km/day, compared with the previous peak of 16km/day. Meanwhile the average construction is expected to top 17km/day. In all total highway construction has increased from 2014, with a

Topcon Positioning Group has acquired a significant share of Finnish design software specialist Viasys VDC. The company offers a comprehensive suite of tools and services for building Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) models for infrastructure and site-work projects. This will add to Topcon’s portfolio of (BIM) technologies. The VDC models from Viasys can be used to optimise the construction process throughout a project lifecycle delivering better quality, higher efficiency and reduced costs.