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Mexico’s road crisis from poor maintenance
May 5, 2017
Mexico’s road network is suffering a crisis due to a sustained period of poor maintenance and underfunding. This is the finding of the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT). Its report reveals that almost 113,000km of the country’s federal road system, around 30% of the entire network, is in need of repairs or upgrades. Poor road conditions have slowed vehicle speeds on the network and also been the cause of crashes, an issue SCT is keen to alleviate. However the combination of insuffici
Colorado toll road project receives funding
May 5, 2017
Funding is being provided for the construction of new tolled lanes on a highway close to Denver, Colorado. The funding will be provided by the US Federal Government in the form of a loan worth US$109 million. In all the project will cost $276 million, with the state providing the majority of the remaining funding required. The funding will be used to widen a 20km section of the route connecting Wadsworth Boulevard with Interstate 25. The widening work is expected to be complete by 2019 and is intended to he
New Australia route in Victoria
May 5, 2017
Work is set to commence on a new bypass in Australia’s Victoria State in 2019, with the work planned for completion in 2022. The new Mordialloc Bypass will run from the existing Dingley Bypass to the Mornington Peninsula Freeway. The project is expected to cost US$226.3 million (A$300 million).
Italian machine sales growing in 2017
May 5, 2017
Improved sales of construction machines have been seen in Italy in the first three months of 2017. In this period sales climbed 6% compared with the first quarter of 2016. There were 2,094 units sold in all, 2,005 items of earthmoving equipment and 89 road construction machines. “The market is growing but on a lower level compared to last year,” said Paolo Venturi, president of Unacea. He added that the sales of new generation machines that meet the latest emissions targets could help further reduce urban p
Chinese firms at CONEXPO/CON-AGG
May 5, 2017
Nearly 130 original equipment manufacturers and their supply Chinese supply chain component makers were represented – the most at any previous CONEXPO/CONAGG event. OEMs included XCMG, Sany, Zoomlion, Shantui, Sunward, LiuGong and SDLG.
Taiwan bridge tender faces issues
May 5, 2017
Tender problems are afflicting Taiwan’s Tamkang Bridge project. The recent tender process for the project has failed. This is now the third time the tender for the project has fallen through. A new tender process for the project will open shortly. With the tender process facing such issues, the project looks likely to be further delayed until after 2020. The country’s Directorate-General of Highways (DGH) has now increased the budget allocated to the project to nearly US$310 million in a bid to ensure the w
Plans for Romania’s new Danube Bridge project?
May 5, 2017
Romania’s Government is evaluating plans for a new bridge project, which would span the River Danube. The project has an estimated cost of nearly €440 million. The tender process is being opened by the Romanian National Agency for the Administration of Road Infrastructure (CNAIR). The bridge would be constructed in Romania’s Dobrogea Region. Funding looks likely to be provided, in part at least, by EU grants. As the Dobrogea Region is the location for the Danube Delta area where the river finally meets the
Netherlands road safety problem as casualties rise
May 5, 2017
Serious issues have been realised in the Netherlands, with an increase in the rate of road casualties. There were 629 road deaths in the Netherlands in 2016, eight more than in 2015. Meanwhile 2015 had seen an increase of 51 road deaths over 2014. The issue is of concern as these two years were the first since 1996 when road deaths had not dropped. The road safety standards in the Netherlands are amongst the best in Europe, and the entire world. However there is concern that in the Netherlands, as in many c
Egypt prioritising road building
May 5, 2017
Egypt is prioritising road construction in a bid to boost the country’s economic development. The country is shortly commencing the third phase of its national roadway project. This will cost US$524.3 million and involves improvements to existing routes and building new roads, with a total distance of 1,154km. The 400km link from capital Cairo to Assiut will be a priority. Work on this project commenced some years ago. A new 37km link will also be built alongside the Cairo-Suez highway. Other projects being
Conference on ecology and transport being planned
May 4, 2017
Planning is going ahead for the International Conference on Ecology and Transportation (ICOET 2017). This landmark event is being held in Salt Lake City, USA, from May 14th to May 18th, 2017. ICOET is the said to be the leading interdisciplinary, interagency supported conference addressing the broad range of ecological issues related to transportation systems in all modes. The event is attracting experts in transportation development, related scientific study, policy issues, and administrative processes fro
Russian road revamp for Volga area
May 4, 2017
A budget of US$400.5 million is being set for a series of road improvements in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region (Volga) during 2017. The funding will be directed towards repairs and maintenance for roads in the area. The programme of works calls for improvements to be carried out to 115km of roads that have been identified as being in unsatisfactory condition. In all 400,000m3 of asphalt will be used for the road upgrades. Meanwhile specific projects to be carried out include the construction of a second bri
Uganda-Kenya road link finds funds
May 3, 2017
Funding for improvements to a major road connection between Kenya and Uganda will be provided by the African Development Bank (AfDB). In all US$253 of financing will be provided for the road improvement work to the 118km stretch of road. The Kenyan side of the project will receive funding worth $147 million while the Ugandan side will receive $106 million. This will pay for close to 90% of the costs associated with the project, with the remainder being paid for by the Kenyan Government and the Ugandan Gover
Chile-Argentina tunnel project to take nine years
May 3, 2017
Construction work for the Agua Negra tunnel connecting Argentina with Chile is expected to take nine years to complete. The actual construction work will commence in 2019, although considerable activity will be required beforehand. Building the tunnel is expected to cost in the orders of US$1.5 billion. Much of the financing for the project is being provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). So far the IADB has given $20 million to Argentina and a further $20 million to Chile to pay for the nec
Bangladesh flyover project on track
May 3, 2017
Work is progressing well on a huge flyover project in Bangladesh. The Akhtaruzzaman Chowdhury Flyover looks likely to open to traffic shortly, although the intersections will still have to be completed. The link is 5.2km long. Work to build five of the access ramps has still to begin however. The flyover will join the Muradpur and Lalkhanbazar areas and will help to cut congestion at peak travel periods.
Honduras road projects now commencing
May 3, 2017
Work is starting on important road connections in Honduras. The work will see a series of projects being carried out in the west of the country. The Honduras Government has set a budget of US270 million for the road works. Key links to be improved include a stretch of road from La Entrada to Santa Rosa and a section between La Entrada and Copan Ruinas.