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The Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) has confirmed that a total of 1,474 road infrastructure contracts were granted in the first half of 2015. This work is costing in the region of US$1.02 billion. A total of 74% of these contracts were awarded to Mexican companies, whilst 26% corresponded to foreign firms. SCT informed that 31 projects were concluded so far in 2015 and added that 12 additional initiatives were expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Slovakia is pushing ahead with its road building plans, which will see over 56 m of motorways being completed by end of 2015. This is the main priority of the Slovak Transport Ministry for 2015. The Slovakian Government also plans to complete tenders for the construction of 90km of bypasses for Bratislava, Kosice and Presov. The Slovak Transport Ministry intends to complete two sections of the D1 route, the 11.2km Fricovce-Svinia stretch and the 18.5km Janovce - Jablonov section as well as the 10.4km stretc

Plans are in hand in Moscow and the surrounding area for the construction of 135km of new roads. This road programme is expected to cost in the region of US$888.5 million to carry out. One of the key projects is for the construction of the Central Ring Road, which is due for completion in 2025. By 2035, the construction programme should have seen the completion of some 700km of roads.

An agreement has been struck between the Veronafiere-SaMoTer exhibition and Italian construction equipment manufacturing association Unacea. This deal is intended to further boost the Italian construction machinery industry. Exports are performing well (70% of production), although the domestic market has to be kick-started after falling by 80% because of the economic crisis.

The European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism (TRAN) Committee voted to approve a report evaluating the implementation of the European Commission’s 2011 White Paper on Transport. The document outlines the priorities and directions that the TRAN Committee would like to see the Commission take as they continue the consultation process for the revision of the White Paper on Transport. The Parliament’s position is that consumers must be at the heart of all transport policy initiatives. FIA Region I, a cons

Brazil's Treasury Ministry has confirmed that the rate of return for the upcoming highway concession auctions is to be set at 9.2%, up from the 7.2% used in the previous round of tenders in 2013. The lower return is to ensure that the road tolls are lower. However, critics said the measure is not high enough and many contractors are looking for a rate of return of at least two digits, Brazil media reported. Even the increased rate as it stands will not lead to a greater number of contractors tendering fo

The contract award for Columbia’s 9.75km Toyo Tunnel project will be made on September 28, according to Columbian media. The tunnel, costing almost US$760, will be part of a new 39km road between Santa Fe de Antioquia and Canasgordas. World Highways reported in January that the central government will contribute $216 million towards the project, the regional government of Antioquia department will contribute $337 million and the Medellin city government will pitch in with $212 million. Columbia’s N

Vietnam has major plans to develop its transportation infrastructure by 2020. The work required could cost in the order of US$45.9 billion. Of this, some 64.1% will be required to improve the national road system. The State Budget has so far provided approximately 30-40% of the financing required. However, the country has a need for international investment to further develop its transportation system. One of the barriers to PPPs has been a lack of clear policy on indirect government support. Another proble

A series of road concessions will be put out to tender in Colombia. The country’s government intends to put 11,000km of road projects out for concession by December 2018. So far 34 of the 4G highway tenders have been set into motion, including 17 as contracts, another 14 that have been awarded and three that are in the process of being awarded. Two projects from the second phase of the 4G road programme, the Sisga-El Secreto highway and the Puerta de Hierro project, have been given the green light to start

An important new road link is being built in Algeria that will connect the port of Oran with the country’s East-West motorway. The new road link is expected to open to traffic in 2017. The work is being carried out by an Algerian-Turkish partnership, Engoa-Makyol. Costing US$483 million, the work will take some 30 months to complete. The new road is expected to improve traffic flow to and from the port and reduce congestion in and around Oran as heavy trucks will no longer have to use existing urban routes.

Finnish heavy machinery operator Juha-Pekka Perämäki takes his food seriously and likes to share what he makes, even if it is only a hot dog Click here to watch him use his Caterpillar 308 excavator to prepare a hot dog, right down to putting some onions inside and then delivering it to his friend standing on the sidelines.

The small matter of a bridge out and the river raging along didn’t stop these men from either getting home or to work. The maneouver is either an abuse of two Komatsu excavators or a creative use of two Komatsu excavators. In the 1960’s there was a game in the UK of seeing how many people could squeeze into a Mini car. In the United States, it was piling into a telephone kiosk. In other places, it’s how many people can fit into an excavator’s bucket. Click here to see how happy most of the passenger

Caterpillar’s recent advertising campaign lends new meaning to the term ‘driving range’. The construction equipment manufacturer loaded several heavy mining and dump trucks with soil and created a moving golf course, complete with greens and even a small waterfall. The company then had two golfers attempt to hit the “greens” as the trucks, including a 928 wheel load, drove around within driving distance of the professionals. Click here to see not just how well the golfers did underneath a clear blu