News

There is concern in Serbia over delays to the Zemun-Borca bridge project. Costing some €197 million in total for the bridge and its access roads, the project is due for completion in December 2014. However Serbia’s Ministry of Construction is investigating why the project is not on track and wants to bring the work back into line with the planned schedule. The Serbian Government is funding 15% of the project while China’s Exim Bank is providing 85%. The Chinese contractor China Road and Bridge Corporation i

The organisers of the bauma Africa construction equipment exhibition plan to revise the show schedule in the future. Following next year’s event from September 15th-18th, the exhibition will be held on a three year cycle. The first bauma Africa event was held in September 2013, with two years between it and the second planned show that is being run in September 2015. The new schedule will see the third bauma Africa exhibition being held in September 2018. The decision was made after close consultation with

Construction work on the fourth bridge spanning Chile’s Biobio Bridge is proceeding on schedule. The project site is located in Chile’s Gran Concepcion area. Construction could commence in 2016, with completion expected in 2018. Environmental studies have yet to be completed however. The work will be carried out as part of a concession package and the bridge is expected to cost some US$214 million to construct, carrying two lanes for vehicle traffic as well as claiming pedestrian and cycling connectivity. T

Work on Pakistan’s Lowari Tunnel should be complete by October 2017. Completion of the construction project is dependent on sufficient funding however, according to Pakistan’s National Highway Authority (NHA). The Lowari Tunnel forms part of the Nowshera-Chitral Highway (N-45) and is being upgraded to boost both safety and capacity. So far over 4km of the 8.5km tunnel has been widened, costing close to US$93 million. Once the work is complete, this should reduce the travel time between Chitral and Peshawar

Taiwan is taking steps to cut its car crash rate following research revealing high levels of serious and fatal incidents on its road network. The Taiwan Institute of Transportation estimates that in 2013, crashes cost the country some US$ 15.81 billion, equivalent to 3.3% of its GDP. In all 373,568 people were injured in Taiwan by vehicle crashes while some 1,928 were killed. The country’s crash rate is of concern and in 2010, 293,764 people were injured in 219,651 crashes while 2,047 were killed.

In Belgium a programme of safety measures is being proposed in a bid to tackle the country’s high road crash rate. Belgium’s annual fatality rate is significantly higher than that of its neighbours, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Research has revealed that the risk of being involved in a fatal crash in Belgium is near to double that of neighbouring Netherlands for example. Political parties agree that drivers should be checked periodically for alcohol or drug use as well as whether they wear seatbelts

A new border bridge is being built between Thailand and Myanmar. The second Friendship Bridge will connect Mae Sot in Thailand with Myawaddy in Myanmar, spanning the River Moei. The project is expected to cost some US$93.9 million. Construction will commence in early 2015 and the structure is expected to be completed by the end of 2015. The bridge will be designed with a weight capacity of 100tonnes.

The Moroccan Government is opening up the tender process for studies on a major motorway project in the country.

A major programme of repairs and rebuilding is being carried out on Russian roads in the country’s North-Western Federal District during 2014. In all close to US$144 million is being spent in a programme of works with upgrading 258 separate infrastructure projects. The work is being carried out on 293km of public roads in all, while work is planned on a further 400km of roads during 2015.

Plans are moving ahead in Bangladesh for a series of new elevated expressways that will be constructed in capital Dhaka. Chinese contractor China Railway Construction Corporation and Ital-Thai Development Corporation have signed an agreement that will see the two firms working jointly on the expressway project. A budget of US$172.55 million has been set for the work. The expressways are being elevated so as to minimise risks from flooding and also so as to minimise the amount of land required for their cons

A new bridge is planned for the Scottish city of Aberdeen, centre of the country’s oil industry. Continued growth in the city from the oil industry is fuelling an increase in vehicle numbers, with congestion a serious problem. As a result, Aberdeen City Council has given a contract to Balfour Beatty to construct the Third Don Crossing at a cost of some €17.6 million (£14.3 million). The two existing crossings to the north of the city centre suffer heavy congestion at peak periods at present and this new bri

Work on a 108km road connecting Irba Moda with Wadera in Ethiopia has now been completed. This upgraded road now features an asphalt surface along its length. The work was carried out by Turkish contractor Ahmet Aydeniz Construction Company. The contractor is now hopeful of winning further tenders in Ethiopia, which has a major infrastructure investment programme underway at present.

A major extension of Slovakia’s motorway network is underway, although spending in 2015 will be lower than in 2014. The Slovakian National Motorway Company is using a combination of both EU and state funds to invest in motorway construction during 2015. Some €518.5 million will be invested, although this is around 16% lower than the budget agreed for 2014. The EU Operational Programme Integrated Infrastructure (OPII) source will provide €80.6 million, while €14.22 million will come from the state budget. T

A major extension of Slovakia’s motorway network is underway, although spending in 2015 will be lower than in 2014. The Slovakian National Motorway Company is using a combination of both EU and state funds to invest in motorway construction during 2015. Some €518.5 million will be invested, although this is around 16% lower than the budget agreed for 2014. The EU Operational Programme Integrated Infrastructure (OPII) source will provide €80.6 million, while €14.22 million will come from the state budget. T

Construction work is now underway on a major highway link in Mexico. The new highway will connect Atizapan with Atlacomulco. The work is costing close to US$447 million and completion of the project will help reduce congestion along the existing route while boosting safety and cutting travel times. Once the work is complete, the journey time will be reduced from the present two hours to just 45 minutes.