News

Mexico is benefiting from heavy transport investment
October 30, 2013
A major programme of investment looks set to add new road and highway links to Mexico’s network. The Ministry of Communications and Transport (SCT) has announced planned investments of some US$5.39 billion in several projects in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacan and Oaxaca. The 70 projects include 32 road and 14 motorway projects, as well as the expansion of six ports. In addition, the new Las Armas distribution road that will connect the State of Mexico and Mexico city has been inaugurated. The fi
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Strong interest in building new Chile-Argentina tunnel link
October 30, 2013
Interest is strong in the proposed tunnel linking Chile and Argentina. Some 37 companies have shown expressions of interest in the US$1 billion Agua Negra road tunnel. This includes 22 consortia and includes Latin American firms such as Panedile, Techint, Camargo Correa, Jose Cartellone. It also includes the Chinese firms China Railway Construction Corporation, China Railway Bureau Group, China State Construction Engineering Corporation and Sinohydro Group. Daewoo, Hyundai Engineering and SK Eng & Construct
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CONTROLS opens new Middle East facility
October 30, 2013
Testing equipment specialist CONTROLS is opening a new facility in the Middle East. The company now has a subsidiary operation in Iraq’s Kurdish region, which is intended to boost the presence of the CONTROLS business in the region. Called TE CONTROLS, the business is located in Erbil and offers the firm’s range of soil, asphalt and concrete testing technologies including basic and sophisticated systems, while also providing sales and service support.
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Connect Plus joins Highways Agency’s plea to drivers to take care through road works
October 30, 2013
Connect Plus, the design, build, finance and operating company for southern England’s M25 and its adjoining trunk routes, last week joined with the Highways Agency to convey vital messages to drivers passing through road works. The company, a joint venture consisting of Balfour Beatty, Skanska, Atkins and Egis Projects SA, was participating in the Highways Agency Road Worker Safety Week (21-28 October), which aimed to get across to the public some of the dangers road workers face in their work close to fas
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SMOPYC construction machinery event for Spain
October 30, 2013
The organisers of the International Show of Public Works, Construction and Mining Machinery (SMOPYC) are planning the 16th show from 1-5 April 2014 at the Zaragoza Exhibition Centre in Spain. José Antonio Vicente, director of Zaragoza Exhibition Centre is an authority in trade show circles as well as chairing the Spanish trade show association (AFE and also has expertise in public works machinery. He commented that an economic recovery is now being discussed in many arenas, although the construction industr
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New conference plans for European road directors
October 30, 2013
Plans are in hand for the Conference of European Directors of Roads (CEDR). This event is now run every four years, with this next CEDR conference being the third to be held. The governing board for CEDR held a meeting in Helsinki and the Road Directors’ association reviewed the final report on the implementation of its previous strategic plan and the formalisation of its next. The CEDR strategic plan 3 (SP3) is to develop the priorities and targets for its next cycle. Each SP determines the structuring an
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Progress for planned Denmark-Germany immersed tunnel
October 30, 2013
A Danish company, Femern, is submitting documents for the Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link, an immersed tunnel that will connect Germany with Denmark. The project is expected to cost in the order of €5.5 billion to construct. An 18km immersed tunnel will link the islands of Fehmarn and Lolland. Fehmarn Island is already connected with Northern Germany’s mainland by a bridge, while Lolland is already connected by a tunnel and bridges with Zealand, a link that runs via the island of Falster
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Drivers sceptical of EU vehicle control safety benefits, claims IAM research
October 28, 2013
Three quarters of UK drivers are concerned that the use of Intelligent Speed Adaptations (ISAs) will compromise safety, according to research by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). Last month, the EU announced that they were considering rules for new cars to be installed with Intelligent Speed Adaptation (ISA) technology. The technology would be capable of detecting limits through cameras or satellites and automatically applying the brakes. Existing vehicles could be forced to be retrofitted with
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Brazil president Dilma Rousseff plans US$6.12bn paving-waterworks projects
October 28, 2013
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff is looking to invest US$6.12 billion (BRL 13.5 billion) in basic water and sanitation and paving projects under phase 2 of the country's growth acceleration plan. President Rousseff said a total of 310 projects are to be carried out, benefiting 1,198 cities and towns, including the federal district. Besides building drainage systems, water mains, and sewer systems, 7,500km of roads will be paved and 15,000km of sidewalks will be created. The resurfacing and implementi
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Volvo Construction Equipment sales down 7% in Q3 2013
October 25, 2013
Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) sales fell 7% to US$1.929 billion (SEK 12,278 million) in Q3 2013, compared to $2.085 billion (SEK 13,272 million) the same period of last year. The global construction equipment manufacturing giant said the sales dip in July-September 2013 reflects the general downward trend in market conditions. This included lower activities in the global mining industry, which particularly hit sales of large and more expensive products.
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UK Government to invest billions in road, rail and energy works
October 25, 2013
The UK Government is about to underwrite investments in road, rail and energy projects worth €38.94 billion (£33 billion), the Treasury has announced. A total of 40 projects have now pre-qualified for state funding through the UK Guarantees scheme - more than 50% of which are energy projects. The Government guarantees will represent part of the project's capital value. The British Government believes that investing in infrastructure will generate jobs, drive growth and help ensure that the UK remains
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€802.65mn Vladivostok ring road design taking shape
October 25, 2013
The firm tasked with drawing up a ‘design concept’ for a ring road for the far eastern port city of Vladivostok say their pre-project report research will be completed in December 2013. Giprostroymost St. Petersburg is working within a plan for a 22km long ring road expected to cost around €802.65 million (RUB35 billion). The project cost is likely to increase considerably if overwater construction is deemed necessary. Vladivostok city authorities expect support from the federal budget. If the national g
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ACS and Ferrovial of Spain interested in U.S. road project
October 25, 2013
Spanish construction companies ACS and Ferrovial are both taking part in the tender of the US$1.3 billion Neon Project in the U.S. State of Nevada, through different consortia. Ferrovial is bidding for the project through its subsidiary Cintra Infraestructuras, while Ferrovial has formed a consortium with Fengate Capital Management and Star America Fund GP. The Neon Project involves the extension of a 5.95km road stretch in Las Vegas city, including a bridge and a high capacity lane. The contract is expe
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TISPOL president Ken Ricour discusses policy on video
October 22, 2013
President of the Pan-European police body Ken Ricour discussed key achievements in the year since he took this post. Road safety is a key issue for TISPOL and the group has placed this as a priority for action. Success has been achieved in areas such as reducing speeding and drink driving, while a new focus has been placed on improving safety for vulnerable road users also.
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UK road maintenance industry’s new safe driving through roadworks radio campaign
October 22, 2013
Leading UK road maintenance companies have this week joined together with the Highways Agency to launch a national radio campaign to ask drivers to ‘take extra care’ through roadworks. Messages being aired on commercial radio stations across England from 21st October-3rd November consist of a series of three hard-hitting messages to raise awareness among the public of the need to drive safely through roadworks.
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