Maintenance

UK: Pothole-free guarantee for five years?

March 12, 2019

Contractors and utilities companies in the UK could be guaranteeing roads to be pothole-free for five years, according to new proposals. At the moment, the guarantee is two years but the Department for Transport is conducting an eight-week public consultation on the subject. Street Works UK, which represents the utilities sector, argues that the an increase is not needed. The department is also seeking more innovation into how to better repair potholes, such as using asphalt with a higher bitumen c

Slovakia, Salini Impreglio to part ways over D1-Višňové tunnel work

March 11, 2019

Slovakia and the Italian-Slovak consortium of Salini Impregilo and Dúha will reportedly end construction of a D1 highway stretch including the Višňové tunnel. The planned 7.5km twin-tube Višňové Tunnel is part of the 13.4km section of the D1 between Lietavská Lúčka and Dubná Skala in northern Slovakia. Work started on what will be Slovakia’s longest tunnel in in June 2015. It is also part of the Corridor 5 of the Trans-European Networks (TEN) which links Bratislava with Uzhhorod in Ukraine and is financed

More studies for the Great Istanbul Tunnel under the Bosporus

March 11, 2019

Work has started on a geological condition field study for a proposed 6.5km three-deck road and rail tunnel under the Bosporus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey. Average daily road traffic through the Great Istanbul Tunnel is expected to be 120,000 vehicles and the rail line will move around 75,000 people daily. The tunnel, announced in 2015, will be nearly 19m in diameter and have two road levels and one rail level. It will run between Gayrettepe on the European side and Küçüksu on the Asian side. The ci

Fast and easy road drainage repairs

February 27, 2019

The novel Jig-Brix system is said to offer fast and easy repairs for road ironworks. This plastic inter- locking brick system is used for the construction of underground chambers and for the support of road ironworks. It also requires no mortar, speeding installation. The Jig-Brix system is manufactured from recycled polypropylene which is 100% recyclable and is able to cope with heavy traffic volumes. The Jig-Brix sections lock into place vertically and horizontally without the use of metal clips or scre

Morocco road maintenance programme planned

February 26, 2019

Morocco is planning a road maintenance programme aimed at tackling excessive wear and tear to the country’s network.

Ivory Coast schedules road repairs

February 8, 2019

The Government of Côte d'Ivoire is taking steps to improve the country’s road network, which has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance.

Morandi Bridge investigation continuing

February 1, 2019

The investigation into the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in the Italian city of Genoa is continuing. The failure of the bridge in August 2018 resulted in 43 fatalities. A central section of the structure collapsed and most of the deaths were of those crossing in vehicles at the time, although the deaths also included those hit by falling debris underneath. A number of engineers and managers with responsibilities relating to the bridge are now being investigated directly. The investigators are also looking

Powerful processing from ALLU

January 11, 2019

ALLU says that its new Processor series of units can be used to help mix and process materials. These units are power mixer attachments that convert excavators into powerful and versatile machines for mixing a variety of difficult materials. Materials suited for the attachment range from clay, silt, peat, sludge and sediment, to dredged material and contaminated soil. Working to a depth of 3m, the 2.1tonne, the Processor 300 HD is made from wear- resistant steel and with a stem designed to be strong, stre

Versatile wheeled excavator from Komatsu

January 11, 2019

Komatsu Europe is now offering the versatile and compact PW118MR‐11 wheeled excavator. This midi excavator has a short tailswing and is powered by a low emission Stage IV engine, offering a 6% fuel saving over earlier models. The machine is said to be rugged and stable, with a class‐leading performance for its compact size. The machine is said to combine power, precise control and compact dimensions, suiting it to use for excavating tasks in narrow alleys or on road‐construction sites for example. The firm

Hitachi’s new road scanning technology

January 11, 2019

Using advanced vehicle to vehicle communications, this data could be shared between cars and trucks using the same stretch of road. Multiple alerts over road surface issues could also be used to highlight the need for debris removal or road repairs to road authorities.