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A three-year programme has been agreed intended to improve the collection and use of traffic crash data. This landmark agreement forms part of the joint effort for UN’s Decade of Action for Road Safety. The partnership which will focus on the improvement of road safety data and its analysis was agreed between the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and the International Transport Forum (ITF). FIA President Jean Todt signed the agreement together with the ITF Secretary-General José Viegas at an

The Indonesian government is said to have approved the construction of a bridge to connect Balikpapan and Penajam Paser Utara. The official approval for the US$437.47million (IDR 5 trillion) works was disclosed by Djoko Murjanto from Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works. Construction firm Waskita Karya and the East Kalimantan provincial government are expected to play key roles in the delivery of the project.

The German province of Schleswig-Holstein has started the full €2.1 billion renovation of the 328 provincial road. Schleswig-Holstein has a special funding pot worth €38.5 billion which will be used for renovating the roads for which the province is financially responsible. The money will be spent between now and 2017.

The Department for Development of New Moscow Territories says around 2,000km of motorways may be built and renovated in 'New' Moscow as part of a US$28.75 billion (RUB 1 trillion) investment in developing road transport infrastructure in the enlarged city to 2035. Construction of 476.8km and renovation of a further 381.7km of motorway has already been approved.

In Qatar the public works authority, Ashghal, has awarded a highway construction deal worth US$910 million to South Korean firm Daewoo Engineering and Construction (Daewoo E&C). The deal is for a 42km section of road, which forms part of the New Orbital Highway and Truck Route project. The 42km stretch would connect the Dukhan Highway and the Al Khor Link Road, and will feature five interchanges and a number of bridges. The 14 lane road will also feature wastewater treatment systems and smart road traffic c

Serbia is planning to speed construction of its highway network. A key project being prioritised is the Corridor 10 motorway, which is due for completion by September 2016. Another priority project is for Corridor 11 and for several regional road routes. At present the Corridor 10 sections between Sid and Belgrade, and Subotica and Belgrade have been built, while work on the 22km Ipsilon stretch between Subotica and Kelebija is underway. Work is also underway on the 96km south node from Grabovnica to Presev

Further progress has been made with regard to telematics technology for construction machines. The US Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has played a key role in securing agreements that will allow commonality in the telematics systems used by machines from different manufacturers. The Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP) and the AEM have further support from the German trade association, VDBUM, for a soon-to-be-released expanded AEM/AEMP Telematics Standard.

Data shows that vulnerable road users are benefiting less from improved road safety. This has been revealed in the 2014 Road Safety Annual Report, which highlights latest road safety data. The number of road fatalities fell by 1.7% between 2011 and 2012 in the 31 countries covered by the International Road Traffic and Accident Database (IRTAD), according to the International Transport Forum at the OECD. However, road safety policies are not succeeding in improving protection for vulnerable road users. The l

TRL has won a research grant package from Qatar focussing on recycled materials. The 6th Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) Forum (14th May) has been awarded a research grant under the seventh cycle of its National Priorities Research Program (NPRP). The research will focus on the innovative use of recycled aggregates in construction, with the project commencing in autumn 2014 and lasting three years. Maximising the use of recycled and secondary aggregates is a priority to meet the demand for aggregates i

According to All Pakistan Marble Mining Processing Industry and Exporters Association chairman Sanaullah Khan, marble exports totalled US$70 million (€51 million) from July 2013 to April 2014, a 45% year-on-year increase. China accounted for half of this amount, primarily semi-finished products, while other major importers include the USA, Europe, Middle East, Japan and South-east Asia. Over 90% of the exported marble originated from Balochistan province and the nearby city of Karachi. Khan stated

The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) believes an imminent Technology Strategy Board led programme to encourage innovation in the UK’s Off Highway sector is likely to lead to a multi-million euro investment in the future of the construction equipment supply chain. Speaking of the keenly-awaited programme CEA chief executive Rob Oliver said, “We have been working with the TSB for some time and are now confident that a funding competition will be confirmed very shortly. The TSB have a well-established

The Italian city of Milan has won the 2014 Transport Achievement Award (TAA) for its ‘Area C’ urban road pricing scheme. The TAA is awarded annually by the International Transport Forum (ITF) at the OECD, an intergovernmental organisation for the transport sector with 54 member countries. The award will be presented tomorrow in the presence of ministers from around the world during the opening plenary of their global transport summit organised by the ITF. Milan, said by the ITF to be one of the most c

A new Strategic Forum Plant Safety Group guidance document on ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ has been published by the UK-based CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association). The new ‘Competence to Operate Construction Plant’ document aims to clarify methods for employers to manage, develop and record employees' competences to operate all types of plant. The HSE and CITB were key participants, alongside a wide range of other organisations. The guidance covers management of training and management o

Kobelco Construction Machinery Group is expecting strong sales in North America and Europe in the 2014 financial year after recently re-entering both key markets after a decade-long absence. Consolidated net domestic sales in Japan in 2013 financial year (April 2013-March 2014) were up 29.2% year-on-year to US$1.362 billion (138.3 billion yen), with overseas sales at $1.771 billion (179.9 billion yen), a year-on-year increase of 11.9%. The ratio of overseas sales to consolidated net sales decreased slightl