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Funding from the Middle East looks set to help develop new Indian highway projects. Some $15.6 billion from the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), a UAE-based sovereign wealth fund, will be directed towards highway projects in India. This will be used for 50 highway projects in India on a toll-operate-transfer (TOT) basis. The Indian Government is planning to award 104 highway projects under the TOT model that will allow investments by private equity firms, infrastructure developers and institutional in

The Mersey Gateway Project achieved another milestone as the first deck span for the elevated north approach viaduct was completed. The reinforced concrete deck span was revealed when Merseylink's movable scaffolding system (MSS) 'Trinity' moved to its second casting position. It is the first of 11 spans that will be cast by the MSS for the deck of the elevated approach viaduct on the north side of the River Mersey.

A new business deal has been struck between Italian manufacturer Magni Telescopic Handlers and Chinese company Zehjiang Dingli Machinery. The agreement between the two companies includes a purchase in stock as well as the establishment of a new R&D facility for Dingli in Europe. Under the terms of the deal, Zhejinag Dingli will sell the full range of Magni machines through its distribution network in China.

Costa Rica is looking into amending its processes for the development of road infrastructure projects. A new law would speed up awarding processes and accelerate the execution of works. Road infrastructure projects are crucial to the economic development of the country. New roads would benefit cargo transport operations and reduce travel times.

A major programme of infrastructure development is planned for the Colombian island of San Andres. The Colombian National Planning Department (DNP) intends to spend a healthy US$719.86 million into infrastructure development projects on San Andres between 2016 and 2020. This represents a 22% increase over the 2011-2014 budget for the island. Development projects include the upgrade of Avenida Circunvalar. The budget will include investment into new cycle facilities, public transportation and developing the

You thought you were good at backing up, until you saw you saw this video of the world’s best practitioner. Pedestrians and motorists in a small Norwegian town were recently surprised – shocked, in some cases - by the driver of a Volkswagen car with a trailer attached who insisted on backing up wherever he went. And he went everywhere, too.

The Indian Government has set out plans to award highway projects worth at least US$8.84 billion during the next fiscal year. These projects will be offered under the hybrid annuity model, according to a report in the Economic Times. KPMG has stated that some 21 projects for a total of 1,500km and worth close to a third of that sum will be granted by the Indian Government in the current fiscal year.

A new report suggests that making all vehicles autonomous could prevent up to 95% of all traffic crashes. But the report also highlights how government and industry need to urgently address the barriers to adoption, regulatory and insurance issues. This new report has been produced by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK. It calls for urgent action by both government and industry to encourage the greater use of autonomous and driverless vehicles.

Finnish port crane manufacturer Konecranes, which plans to merge with Terex Corporation, said it will make annual cost savings of €25 million by the end of 2017. The company said that while merger talks with US manufacturer Terex continue, it needs to make efficiency savings. Around half of the savings will happen before the end of this year, according to a written statement. Plant down-sizing and closures are a possibility, as well as some streamlining of its product portfolio and its supply chain.

In Russia a series of road projects planned to improve connections to Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport have been cut. The new roads connecting to Domodedovo Airport are required for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. But with Russia cutting its federal budget for road development, the projects have halted. Projects affected include the reconstruction of five sections of the A105 federal highway to the airport, construction of four interchanges and nine pedestrian overpasses. The work was expected to cost a total of US$206

Work is now underway in Pakistan on the new Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab highway. This 193km highway is expected to cost close to US$124 million to construct. The Gwadar-Turbat-Hoshab Road (M-8) in Pakistan will connect Gwadar Port with Quetta by connecting the port with the eastern, central and western routes of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The government of Robert Fico has said it will decide the fate of the controversial €1 billion Bratislava bypass, the D4 motorway project, possibly ahead of a national parliamentary election next month. Fico, who also was prime minister from 2006-2010, was re-appointed after leading his Direction Social Democracy party (SMER-SD) to a landslide victory in the 2012 parliamentary election. His party won 83 seats and formed an absolute majority government, Slovakia’s first since 1989. Controversy continue

Mexico’s sub-secretary of infrastructure, Raul Murrieta Cummings, has announced that the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transport will US$3.3 billion in road infrastructure projects during 2016. Murrieta indicated that works will be carried out on 20 motorways and 10 federal roads. By the end of the year, SCT expects to complete 40 motorways and 63 federal roads out of a programme of 52 motorways and 80 roads scheduled for the current term. Murrieta specified that 18,000km of road infrastru

Work is underway in Kazakhstan for a new bridge that will span the Irtysuh River. The new bridge will improve the road connections between Pavlodar and Aksu. The bridge is due for completion by December 2016. The cost of the project is some US$146.74 million. The 12.5km long bridge will be the largest in Central Asia when complete.

Austrian contractor STRABAG is now working on designing and building the new S8 route in Poland. This €57 million project will provide a new 10km route connecting Radziejowice and Przeszkoda. The road is being built from concrete and is due for completion within 31 months. The project was awarded to STRABAG by Poland’s General Directorate for National Roads and Highways (GDDKiA). In addition to building the dual carriageway, the work also involves constructing the Żabia Wola junction as well as several stru