News

A new US$149 million highway project is planned for Côte d'Ivoire.

A new bridge could be built to improve transport connections between Uruguay and Argentina. The project was discussed by the heads of state of both countries recently. The bridge would be constructed to connect Zarate in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province with Nueva Palma, just over the border in Uruguay. The new bridge would provide a link from Argentina’s highway 12 with Uruguay’s highway 21, while the discussions have also included the possibility of the new crossing carrying rail lines in addition to roa

Delays seem likely for the project to build a tunnel link between Turany and Hubova in Slovakia. The 5.7km tunnel will form part of the D1 highway when complete but the construction schedule is being held back as the planned route runs through an aquifer area that provides water sources to three communities in the vicinity. A new route will have to be found so as to minimise the environmental impact. With the original timeline, construction of the tunnel could have commenced in 2017. But given the need to f

Yanmar Holdings has completed its acquisition of Terex Compact Germany in a deal worth US$60 million. This business makes small to medium sized construction machinery in Europe formerly owned by Terex Corporation. This acquisition includes the Terex Corporation businesses carrying out the production and sale of wheel loaders, excavators and wheeled excavators, as well as the production, sales and development facilities in Crailsheim Germany and parts distribution centre in Rothenburg Germany. This acqui

The International Transport Forum is releasing a new report intended to help cut crashes worldwide. The report has been compiled by international experts and analyses the experience of Safe System countries and offers guidance for countries seeking to reduce road deaths. The report highlights need for a new approach to cutting the casualty toll and is called Zero Road Deaths and Serious Injuries: Leading a Paradigm Shift in Road Safety. It has a number of core recommendations. The conventional approach

A section of Slovakia’s D3 highway between Skalite and Svrcinovec should be complete by May 2017. This stretch of the D3 highway is in the north of Slovakia and will improve transport links to the neighbouring countries of the Czech Republic and Poland. The section of highway was previously expected to be complete during 2016 but a series of delays have been caused by various geological issues. The topography of the area is challenging and the section will include two tunnels and over 20 bridges as a result

Colombia is considering additional funding for its 4G road infrastructure development programme. Private financing sources are being considered as a possible source to help pay for the third phase of the 4G road development programme. A 60km dual carriageway connecting the cities of Popayan and Pasto and a road from Cututa to Ocana may be offered as tolled routes to attract private financing. Colombia's national infrastructure agency (ANI) is discussing further funding for its 4G programme from the Latin Am

Vietnam is taking steps to address its high rate of road crashes, as well as the rate of serious injuries and deaths amongst road users. The rate of crashes in capital Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is of particular concern, with the authorities keen to reduce the human toll. So far in 2016, HCMC has seen 2,919 reported road crashes. There were 607 road deaths in HCMC during this period as well as 2,377 serious injuries. This represents an 8.8% increase from the same period in 2015. Poor driving and insufficient e

Progress is being seen in Serbia with regard to some of the country’s key highway projects. The Ljig-Preljina stretch of the Corridor 11 highway will open for traffic at the end of October 2016. The highway route will be tolled but these will not be implemented until the start of 2017. Plans are also moving ahead for the ring road project for the capital, Belgrade. Meanwhile talks are being held with the European Investment Bank (EIB) over the new highway link to run from Nis, through Merdare and over the b

The CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017 exhibition in Las Vegas next March promises to be a major launch event for new construction machines and technologies. The organisers say that registration is now open for the event, which will draw over 2,500 exhibitors in the expanded show area of 232,000m2. The number of exhibitors will be up by 700 from the previous event in 2014, while the show is also introducing a new Tech Experience area that is intended to highlight the future of the construction industry. The organisers ha

Major highway widening work is planned in the US State of Pennsylvania. Around US$125 million will be spent to widen Interstate 76, the Schuylkill Expressway. The busy highway route runs from Philadelphia, though Harrisburg, past Pittsburgh and over the state border to the outskirts of Cleveland in neighbouring Ohio. The project is being organised by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) in a bid to cut congestion on key sections of the route, as this results in severe delays for drivers d

An improvement in road safety is being seen in Oman during the first six months of 2016. According to data from Oman's National Centre for Statistics and Information, 336 people were killed in 2,100 road crashes in first six months of 2016. This is a substantial improvement in road safety compared with the 675 deaths from 6,276 crashes seen in the same period in 2015. Concerned at the high rate of crashes in this comparatively small country, the Oman Government has introduced a series of measures to help bo

Morocco’s highway expansion programme is intended to improve transport in the country and further new projects are now being considered. In all eight new highway links are being reviewed at present, with two studies being carried out into the feasibility of the various projects. These form part of Morocco’s road infrastructure development programme, which includes plans for new routes to be constructed until 2035.

A series of major infrastructure projects are now moving forward in Indonesia, with financing sources having been identified for the work. Key projects include a tolled highway for East Java and a new tolled road and bridge link in East Kalimantan. Work on the 158km South Coast road project for East Java is moving forward with the securing of financing in the shape of a US$225.8 million loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB). A tolled highway link is being planned between Melawai in Balikpapan city

Road development work continues in India, with the country planning its highway infrastructure expansion. The projects are being planned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). A new 127km highway will connect Lucknow with Sultanpur in Uttar Pradesh. The four lane route will also pass through Ayyubganj and Musafirkhana and is expected to cost in the region of US$425.3 million to construct. The work is being carried out by the contractor Dilip Buildon.