News

Ecuador roadworks to be funded by US$367mn Chinese loan

March 21, 2014

The Ministry of Transport and Public Works in Ecuador (MTOP) has announced that a Chinese loan of US$367 million will fund the restoration of the Catamayo-Gonzanama-Sozoranga-Macara and Celica-Cruzpamba-Y del Muerto roads.

Kerch Strait bridge/tunnel decision by end of 2014

March 21, 2014

The best option for a bridge or tunnel to connect the Taman Peninsula in Russia with the Crimea Peninsula across the Kerch Strait will be chosen by the end of 2014. According to Russia's Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov, the feasibility study will focus on several options, including a road bridge, a road-rail bridge and a tunnel project. According to Deputy Transport Minister Sergey Aristov, the construction cost estimated at US$3 billion is within the agreed budget. It may be implemented via a public-pri

Deutz forecasts 2014 revenue growth after 2013 was “encouraging year”

March 20, 2014

Deutz is forecasting low double-digit revenue growth in 2014 after describing 2013 as an “encouraging year” for the German company. Last year saw improvements in all the diesel engine manufacturer’s key performance figures, despite the sluggish global market. And the company says tipped 2014 revenue growth is likely to be coupled with a moderate improvement in the EBIT margin excluding one-off items, which the firm expects to rise to above 4.0%. In 2013, the Deutz Group received orders worth €1,649.7 mil

CEA chief says UK budget heralds “Good week for Construction Industry”

March 20, 2014

CEA (Construction Equipment Association) chief executive Rob Oliver has described this week as a “good week for the [UK] Construction Industry” - after hearing Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne’s budget speech. “Last year the CEA lobbied for special funding for road repairs – the £200 million (€238.66 million) ‘pothole’ fund is, therefore, helpful,” said Oliver. He continued, “Of potentially more significance is the doubling of the annual investment allowance to £500,000 (€596,673) until the end

Volvo CE opens Chinese technology facility

March 20, 2014

Volvo Construction Equipment has carried out the official opening for its new technology centre in Jinan, China. The 50,000m2 facility is located in China’s Shangdong Province, China and will focus on developing products and components for customers in emerging markets. The centre combines design offices with workshops and facilities for testing both complete machines and components. Currently there are more than 150 employees working at the facility, the majority of which are local engineers, but employee

Upgrade of Slovakia’s busy D1 stretch to start in H2 2014

March 19, 2014

Slovak national motorway company NDS plans to start the reconstruction and modernisation of the D1 motorway section between Bratislava and Trnava in H2 2014. As part of the near €150 million project, the current six-lane motorway will be extended by adding an emergency lane. The building works are expected to last 24 months and will include demolition and reconstruction of some of the existing road bridges, as well as construction of new ones. The motorway lanes will be extended from the current 3.5m to 3.

Swiss traffic congestion worsens between 2008 and 2012

March 19, 2014

The number of hours spent stuck in traffic jams on Swiss motorways almost doubled between 2008 and 2012, according to Credit Suisse. The bank also noted traffic jam concerns in Swiss cities, with Zurich ranked worst for jams, followed by Geneva and Lausanne. Credit Suisse says congestion zones or tolls such as those in London, Stockholm and Singapore are needed in cities like Zurich and Geneva.

Shenzhen, China road and underwater tunnel project in 2015

March 19, 2014

A road and underwater tunnel project linking Dachanwan Tollgate with Yueliangwan Boulevard in Shenzhen city, China will be completed in 2015. Shenzhen's first underwater tunnel will cost around US$403.04 million (CNY 2.49 billion) to build (EUR 289.41mn USD 403.04mn). It will span 1.3km in Qinghai Bay. As part of the project, renovations will be conducted on a section of Yueliangwan Boulevard. The renovation works on the 4.4km highway section are scheduled for completion in July 2014.

New plans for Paraguay border bridge

March 19, 2014

The authorities in Paraguay are planning a bridge project that will improve connections in its border area with neighbouring Argentina. The project forms part of a US$170 million plan for infrastructure projects in the border area between Argentina and Paraguay. Other works include a new port terminal in Pilar and improvements to the Alberdi-Pilar highway. The majority of the funding will be directed towards work on the Remanso Bridge and the road section that connects with the port of Falcon.

Costa Rica highway concession package cancelled

March 19, 2014

The Costa Rican Government is paying compensation worth US$28.4 million for the cancellation of a highway concession package. The compensation relates to the San José-San Ramón highway concession and is being paid to the Brazilian construction company OAS, reports Business News Americas. This follows a legal dispute over the project and is some $10 million less than OAS originally claimed in compensation. The 30 year concession package was cancelled last year due to opposition. There were allegations of a c

EU to co-finance studies for new northern Greek highway

March 19, 2014

The European Union is to help finance studies for the northern border section of the Ionian Highway in Greece. Some €1.56 million is being provided through the TEN-T Programme to help pay for a series of studies required to prepare for the project’s tender process. The studies will cost some €3.12 million in all and related to a 46km stretch of highway connecting the Egnatia Odos-Ionian Highway interchange and Kakavia.The initiative was selected for funding under the 2012 TEN-T Annual Call and includes carr

New highway infrastructure planned for Nepal

March 18, 2014

Interest is said to be strong for a key highway project in Nepal. The project to build the US$1.02 billion Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track route has attracted interest from China in the shape of the China Infrastructure Investment Corporation (CIIC) and from India with Reliance Infrastructure, and Shapoorji Pallonji. The 76km highway will commence at Khokana and connect capital Kathmandu with Nijgadh. Should CIIC win the deal it has said it will source funding from China’s Exim Bank. The project has been hit by

Mexican authorities set out plan for infrastructure

March 18, 2014

The Mexican authorities have set out further details on the country’s ongoing infrastructure development plans. Mexico's Transport and Communications Secretariat (SCT) will commence the call for proposals process for highway projects worth a total of US$2.11 billion. The projects include the Paso Express de Cuernavaca, Tuxpan-Tampico highway, Ciudad Obrego by-pass and Barretal by-pass. They also include widening the Tlalpan and Puebla routes. Around $4.366 billion will be invested in roads in Mexico during

Italian testing specialist CONTROLS is expands its business

March 17, 2014

Italian firm CONTROLS is expanding its operations with the acquisition of Australian firm IPC Global. The Australian firm offers advanced material testing technologies for asphalt, soil and unbound materials and this deal will both strengthen the international profile of CONTROLS by adding the Australian facilities but will also further develop its portfolio of solutions. IPC Global will continue to be run as an autonomous operation according to CONTROLS as this will allow the Australian company to capitali

Chinese Government plans major bridge project

March 14, 2014

Plans for a major new bridge project have been given the go-ahead by the Chinese Government. The project calls for the construction of a second bridge spanning Hangzhou Bay. The new bridge will provide a more direct connection between the economically important cities of Ningbo in Zhejiang Province and Shanghai. The project looks likely to cost in the region of US$2.95 billion to construct, including the connecting roads. The bridge will shorten the travel distance between the cities from 200-160km.