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The FIEC, which represents Europe’s contracting firms, is calling for greater spending on developing the transportation network. According to the FIEC, a stronger EU budget for transport is of importance for the European economy. An official statement said, “On its own, completing the TEN-T network will create 10 million extra jobs by 2030. State-of-the art transport infrastructure is also an investment in long-term growth and jobs. Investing €750 billion could generate € 4,551 billion additional GDP.” The

Funding has been secured in the UK for 18 road improvement schemes intended to cut journey times. These works have been given the go ahead by the Department for Transport. The projects include the Preston western distributor scheme, which will provide a new dual carriageway to reduce congestion in the city, and the 3.5km Stubbington bypass. Seven other schemes will be awarded funding to develop their business cases. These include the A140 Long Stratton Bypass, which will divert traffic away from busier rou

Sweco and Galliford Try will handle two major road upgrade projects in the UK jointly.

A contract worth US$159.3 million has been awarded for the 206km route connecting Peruvian capital Lima with Canta and Huayllay. Improving the 20A route is expected to reduce traffic on Peru’s Carretera Central highway. The project is also expected to lower the costs of transporting goods between Lima, Junín and Pasco. The 20A route passes through some very challenging terrain and currently features numerous switchbacks. Improving the route will boost safety and cut journey times for drivers. Peru has set

The tender process for a new road project is now underway in Oman.

Two major road upgrade projects are being planned in Nigeria.

The official opening of Denmark’s new Roskilde Bridge has been carried out. The structure has been named Crown Princess Mary´s Bridge. The 1.3km structure is the first cantilevered bridge to be built in Denmark since 1970. Construction took 36 months and the work was completed three months ahead of schedule. The project posed some challenges to the engineers and designers as the construction work was subject to environmental restrictions. Because it lies close to a residential area and a summerhouse area,

A series of tenders are opening for Vietnam’s landmark North-South Expressway project. Eight sections of the route are being opened for bidding, with these being planned under the build-operate-transfer model. Financing for these eight stretches will be provided by a combination of bank loans, private investors and government funding. The winning bids should be revealed in early 2020. In all the North-South Expressway is expected to cost nearly US$4.3 billion.

Road widening work is being planned on the route connecting Costa Rican capital San Jose with nearby Cartago. The work is intended to cut congestion on the route, which suffers from delays at peak periods. In all the project is expected to cost US$400 million. The work is being carried out by local contractor Meco, which is now starting with a feasibility study and drawing up preliminary plans. The route will be tolled but the Costa Rican Government says it will ensure that the tolls are kept to a low level

Plans are in hand to upgrade the historic Lanchid Bridge and Varalgut Tunnel in Hungary’s capital, Budapest. However a shortage of available funds means that the improvement works to the tunnel may have to be delayed. Should it prove the case that funds are insufficient to meet the necessary costs, the work to the bridge will be prioritised. Rebuilding both the Lanchid Bridge and Varalgut Tunnel could cost from €104.64 million to €107.7 million according to estimates. The bridge work alone could cost as muc

Two major new bridge projects are being planned in Russia. One bridge will span the Volga River, the other will span the Yenisei River in Siberia.

The UK Government has announced transport infrastructure spending plans worth £25 billion. This will be directed towards a series of road upgrades across England and Wales. Key projects expected to be fast-tracked for development include the construction of the A46 bypass around Newark and a new road link connecting the university cities of Cambridge and Oxford. A new link between the M54 motorway and northbound M6 motorway are being considered, as are upgrades to the A38, A 428 and A34.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in the US has repealed a 103-year-old federal procurement rule.