News

The Chinese authorities have announced plans to construct the world’s longest undersea tunnel. Measuring a colossal 123km long, the tunnel route runs under the Bohai Sea and is intended to connect Dalian in Liaoning Province with Yantai in Shandong Province. The tunnel was first proposed in the mid-1990s when it was expected to cost in the region of US$10.3 billion to build but the project was shelved due to the enormous construction challenges it posed. However tunnelling technology has moved on and the Ch

The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) has plans to expand the country’s road network. In all 42 road construction projects will be completed during the present financial year while a further 45 new road projects will be started. The new roads will extend for a total of 20,700km. Key roads being built will connect Woliso and Ambo, Goro and Lebu and Awash and Debreberhan via Dulecha and Ankober. The programme of works is expected to cost US$1.53 billion.

Plans are in hand for a new bridge to span the Lena River near Yakutsk in Russia. The project is expected to cost US$1.95 billion. The bridge will take six years to design and construct, with the project being handled under the PPP model. Private investors will maintain the bridge over an eight year period, with payments being made by the Russian State. A number of leading companies have expressed interest in the project so far including Transstroy, Mostovik, Most, Mostotrest, and Sibmost.

Bidding is strong for a road tunnel project in Bosnia Herzogovina. The expected cost of the 902m long tunnel has not so far been revealed, however the project is being financed jointly by the European Investment Bank (EIB) as well as Bosnia’s Federal Government. The tender for the project was announced by Bosnian roads company, Cesta Federacije BiH. Bids have been received from Croatian contractors Skladgradnja, Viadukt and Hidroelektra Niskogradnja.

SDLG unveiled the LG6210E excavator, the LGB677 backhoe loader, and the LG953N energy-saving wheeled loader during the recent CTT show in Moscow. The launch of the three key new machine models was said to mark the start of a push to expand the Chinese company’s reach in the Russian market.

Austria’s capital Vienna is carrying out a test which will ban cars on part of the Mariahilfer Strasse, the country's biggest shopping street. The test ban will also make it impossible for drivers to cross the road or to stop. Lasting for several months and if deemed a success, the test ban could lead to a permanent car ban coupled with pedestrian-friendly construction works from 2014. Critics of the car test ban fear it will drive many shoppers to out of town shopping centres.

Rosavtodor has held a roadshow for the construction and operation of a highway bridge over the Lena River near Yakutsk in eastern Russia. A public-private partnership project, a starting price for the bridge’s construction has been set at US$1.95 billion (RUB 64 billion). Investments will have at least 5% of the project funds. The bridge is to be engineered and built in six years. Private investors will maintain the bridge for eight years, receiving regular payments from the state amounting to $485.68 milli

Motorway traffic in Brazil is increasing again, following three quarters of decreasing vehicle numbers on the roads. Road concessionaire CCR reported an overall 6.2% year-on-year increase in traffic April-June 2013, seeing growth of 10% on some of its motorways. EcoRodovias, meanwhile, recorded a 7.7% increase over the same period, said to be down to additional HGV traffic. Similarly, Arteris registered a 5.6% increase in motorway traffic in Q2 2013, expecting overall growth of 4.4% for 2013.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) U.S. say construction machinery exports dropped 21% during the first half of 2013, with US$10.8 billion shipped to global markets compared to $13.7 billion in H1 2012. The AEM report that nearly all world regions recorded double-digit declines, except Central America with a double-digit gain. Construction machinery exports to Europe in H1 2013, compared to H1 2012, declined 20% for a total $1.4 billion, with exports to Canada down 15% to a total value of $3.7

The Software specialist Autodesk is broadening its range of capabilities with the acquisition of the Sam and AutoTrack software. These technology assets have been bought from the UK-based companies, Bestech Systems and Savoy Computing. The aim of this move is to increase the company’s offering for the building information modelling (BIM) concept in infrastructure. The Sam suite of software modules being bought from Bestech Systems, cover loading, analysis and design of small – medium span bridges. Meanwhile

A 4.9km long bridge will be constructed close to Ukraine’s capital Kiev.

The authorities in Oman have plans for a major programme of infrastructure investments. Tenders for a series of projects worth close to US$360 million have now been awarded. The projects include construction of the South Al Batinah Expressway. This is package 5 of the expressway project and construction of this section will cost £344.4 million.