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The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (MTI) in Nicaragua plans to build more than 200km of new roads during 2014. The MTI reportedly has a budget of US$151.87 million (NIO 3.88 billion), of which $58.44 million (NIO 1.5 billion) belongs to the Treasury. One 10km project originally earmarked for 2013, the Malpaisillo-Mina El Limon road, will be carried out in 2014. The 28km Nejapa-Empalme de Puerto Sandino scheme is also said to be under development.

Official data from Poland shows a continued improvement in road safety. The data reveals that there were 5% fewer accidents, almost 8% fewer fatalities, a 5% decrease in injuries and a 5% reduction in drink-drivers. The information was made available recently through Pan-European police body TISPOL. According to TISPOL, the statistics confirm that police action can be effective in reducing vehicle crashes. Comparing the data for 2013 with statistics for 2012 and 2011 reveals a notable drop in road crashes,

The organisers of the Samoter construction equipment show being held in the historic Italian city of Verona are bullish for the success of the event. This will be the 29th edition of Samoter, an international triennial exhibition focussing on earthmoving and site machinery. It will also be the 50th anniversary of the foundation of the event, which will also co-host the Asphaltica exhibition for road paving, safety and infrastructures for the first time. Asphaltica is organised in cooperation with Siteb, the

The average social cost of each New Zealand road accident death is $3.75 million (NZD 4.54 million), according to an estimation by the New Zealand ministry of transport (MOT) The New Zealand MOT also estimates that the average cost of serious injuries due to road accidents is $392,989 (NZD 473,600) per person. The social costs include financial and non-financial costs of accidents such as property damage, medical and legal expenses as well as loss of quality of life. The number of road accidents in New Ze

Ambitious plans to build the Malacca Straits bridge in Malaysia’s Malacca state have received a boost from a senior Danish diplomat. After meeting with Denmark's ambassador to Malaysia Nicolai Ruge, who said that his country had the engineering capacity and expertise to deliver the project, Malacca state’s chief minister, Idris Haron, said that it was possible the planned structure over the Malacca Straits could proceed. The idea of the 48.69km bridge – which would link Teluk Gong in Malacca with Dumai in

The Government of Qatar is reportedly near to agreeing deals for delivering a number of vital road transport and other infrastructure projects worth a combined US$12.36 billion (QAR 45 billion). Seven major expressways, other road development and repair projects, and key sewage infrastructure works make up the planned projects’ package. The expressway projects will have a combined road length of 900km, subways, flyovers and 240 major interchanges. In addition, the expressway projects will also include a h

Romania’s national roads company has plans for work to start on some 400km of new highways in 2014. This is expected to cost in the order of €5.8 billion. The three key projects will be the €1.2 billion Comarnic-Brasov highway, the Craiova-Pitesti highway and the southern beltway in Bucharest. In all the three projects will cost €5 billion and will extend for 230km.

In Canada construction is underway on the US$276.6 million (C$300 million) gravel highway connecting Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. This 140km, all-weather gravel route lies in Canada's Northwest Territories (NWT). The NWT highway connects to the Demspter Highway in the Yukon territory and stretches all the way to the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic ocean. This will be the second major infrastructure boost to the Arctic region, following the opening of the Deh Cho Bridge in 2012. Completion is expected in 2018. Canada’

A Japanese infrastructure loan will help find major highway projects in Mozambique. The agreement for the loan has been made between the governments of Japan and Mozambique. The US$572.3 million loan will be used to widen and upgrade several existing routes as well as to build new highways. This will help Mozambique capitalise on development of its resources.

The UK-based GEM Motoring Assist road safety charity has released a video version of its most frequently asked questions in a bid to help drivers stay safe when rain, spray and increasing levels of surface water create potential hazards on their journeys. The video comes as parts of the UK remain on flood alert after heavy rain and strong winds caused havoc earlier this month, particularly in the south of England. Environment Agency teams are still working around the clock monitoring water levels, clearing