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New airport road interchange in China being built
January 5, 2016
Construction work is now underway on the interchange for the second highway connecting to China’s Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The new highway is around 21.4km long and connects Huadu district with Tianhe district. The route features 15 bridges and has a design speed of 100km/h. The new link will improve connections between the airport and Guangzhou City and the work is costing US$1.32 billion. Located in South China, Guangzhou City lies comparatively close geographically to Hong Kong and develop
New funding helping Nepal plan for road development
January 5, 2016
The Nepalese Government is planning to spend a healthy US$ 1.3billion on developing major infrastructure projects. New roads and highways as well as energy projects are being prioritised. Funding will be provided jointly through the World Bank and the US Government body the Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC), as well as the Government of Nepal. The Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track project has been suggested as a top priority. One-third of the funding will come from the World Bank, MCC and government while the
VIDEO: Chinese man tries on the idea of a driving shoe
January 4, 2016
The smartly dressed but casual man may be seen wearing a pair of so-called driving shoes, very fashionable in many parts of Europe, such as made by Gucci. But one man in China has taken the idea of a driving shoe literally. He actually has a driving shoe – a 3m long electric vehicle in the shape of a stylish men’s dress shoe. If he puts his foot to the floor - or sole - the brown shoe will do around 400km before needing a recharge. The battery-powered shoe was reportedly made by a local shoe factory with re
VIDEO: Starlings play foul in the streets of Rome
January 4, 2016
It’s that time of year again when city authorities in the Italian capital regularly close down some of the more clogged city streets. But it’s not cars that are the problem. It’s bird excrement, by the tonne, from starlings that migrate from northern Europe to live in Rome during the less brutal winter. Cleaners are out in force in the more affected areas where recent rainfall has made the streets dangerously slippery for motorcycle and mopeds. Meanwhile, sidewalks have become treacherous for pedestrians
Philippines moves provincial road maintenance to local units
January 4, 2016
The Philippines federal government has earmarked US$138 million for repairing provincial roads in 73 of the country’s 81 provinces. The Department of Budget and Management allocated the money under the KALSADA programme that devolves responsibility for road repair and maintain of provincial roads, alongside the planning of other local infrastructure, to local governments. Local governments are also expected to come up with their own Provincial Road Network Development Plans. Public Works Secretary
Bolivia sets out spending on national highways for 2016
January 4, 2016
Bolivian President Evo Morales has said the government will spend US$1.9 billion on national highways in 2016. Nearly $12 million will be spent in expanding the Rio Seco-San Roque road in El Alto from one to 10 lanes. Morales requested that the El Alto municipal government assist in the project development by providing sewage and lighting works, as well as providing better security for roads that are often off limits because of their use by smugglers, according to a report to El Deber.
Report claims that Germany’s toll roads are too expensive
January 4, 2016
Toll roads built in Germany under public-private partnerships deals has been costing taxpayers much more than originally planned, a government spending watchdog has claimed. An internal report the German Federal Audit Office (BRH) has criticised PPP plans for private motorway construction as laid out by the Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure Alexander Dobrindt. According to the report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, five out of the total six motorways built through a PPP deal resu
India funding links to Myanmar
January 4, 2016
Funding for new bridges that will improve transport links between Myanmar and neighbouring India will be provided by India. The funding will pay for the construction of 69 highway bridges across Myanmar. The work on the bridges is expected to be completed in the middle of 2019. The rebuilding of the Kalewa-Tamu-Kyigone route will cost some US$56 million and will improve transport and freight connectivity between both nations. The new road section will also be part of a proposed bus route between Mandalay, M
Brunei sees increased road deaths
January 4, 2016
Road crashes in Brunei caused more deaths in 2015 compared with 2014. The data from Brunei's Fire and Rescue Department shows that from January to November 2015, there were 15 road deaths compared with 10 fatalities from road crashes in 2014. In the period under review, the department obtained 76 calls to assist in lifting drivers and passengers trapped in ruined vehicles as opposed to 92 calls obtained in the preceding year. Serious injuries, however, dropped year-on-year from 92 to 65 in the 11 reporting
Passengers’ pestering proves distracting for drivers
January 4, 2016
A survey of drivers carried out in the UK reveals that a significant portion believe their spouse to be their most annoying passenger. This could pose a serious risk too since annoying passengers can provide a major distraction to drivers. The survey, carried out by car leasing firm OSV said that 43% of male drivers and 41% of female drivers found their spouse to be the most annoying passenger. The survey also found that around 65% of motorists admit to regularly arguing in their car. Other annoying passeng
Thailand’s dangerous roads prove risky for users
January 4, 2016
Late December and early January has proven to be a dangerous time to use the roads in Thailand. Official data shows that there were 3,092 road crashes, causing 3,216 injuries and 340 deaths in the period between the 29th December 2015 and the 3rd January 2016. The death toll was the highest in Nakhon Ratchasima at 15, while the number of injuries and accidents were the highest in Chiang Mai, both at 125. A total of 339 crashes occurred nationwide on 3 January 2016 with 361 injuries and 48 deaths. Among the
November December 2015
December 24, 2015
Bridge parapets are intended to meet rigorous safety standards - Image courtesy of World Highways reader Mike Hughes
Virginia state issues RFP for $2.1 billion Interstate 66 toll expansion
December 23, 2015
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has issued a draft request for proposals (RFP) for the US$2.1 billion Interstate 66 tolled expansion project. Work under a 40-50-year public-private partnership is expected to include construction of 46km of lanes.
UAE spending on developing roads
December 23, 2015
A large budget has been set by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai. Contracts worth US$131.22 million have been awarded for a series of road, bridge, crossing and tunnel upgrades.
Replace bridge for Vancouver’s Massey Tunnel could aid congestion
December 21, 2015
Opponents of a proposed 10-lane bridge near Vancouver, Canada, said the structure will encourage urban sprawl in a region that is already struggling with a booming population. The British Columbia provincial government recently opened the final round of public consultation for the planned 3.3km toll bridge likely to cost around US$2.54 billion.