News

US$2.51bn Malaysia highway projects by Prolintas
June 27, 2013
Malaysia-based highway operator Projek Lintasan Kota (Prolintas) plans to launch two highway projects in 12 months' time following a US$2.51 billion (MYR 8bn) investment. The highways in the Klang Valley are the Sungai Besi-Ulu Klang Elevated Expressway (Suke) and the Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway (Dash).
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OHL’s debut Texas contract for US$142mn highway renewal
June 27, 2013
Spanish construction firm OHL has secured its first highway works contract in the US state of Texas. The US$142 million contract will see the company renew a 3.2km section of the US-290, which runs through the Lone Star state. Building new bridges, highway resurfacing and drainage improvements are key features of the contract. The work is part of the widening programme for the US-290. The state of Texas has plans to carry out infrastructure projects worth US$5 billion by the end of 2014.
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Developing advanced vehicles in Europe will bring economic developments
June 27, 2013
A new report suggests that Europe could improve economic growth and create much-needed jobs by developing technological innovations for transportation. The report is entitled Fuelling Europe’s Future: How auto innovation leads to EU jobs. This study was produced by a consortium of transport sector stakeholders. It suggests that innovation in the automotive sector would boost growth prospects and create anything from 500,000-1,100,000 additional jobs between now and 2030. This innovation could also help redu
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London police mapping crash data
June 27, 2013
London’s Metropolitan Police Service is using the latest desktop mapping software to collate essential data about road traffic collisions. The advanced Geographical Information System (GIS) from GGP Systems in being used to identify and map the exact location of incidents where a personal injury has occurred and prepare detailed reports for the Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL). This can be used to highlight problem areas, with plans for improving infrastructure then being drawn
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Colorado adopting new road surface standard
June 27, 2013
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is implementing a new pavement texture standard. This revised specification is a response to feedback from the state's drivers with requirements for finishing Portland cement concrete pavement (PCCP). The main change is that the state is discontinuing the use of tining on all PCCP projects. In certain instances the grooved pavement texture produced by longitudinal tining can cause drivers to experience uncomfortable lateral vehicle movement. This is called gr
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New data shows continued fall in KSI figures on UK roads
June 27, 2013
The UK’s road safety is improving according to the latest set of official statistics. According to the Department for Transport (DfT) figures, 1,754 people were killed on the UK’s roads in 2012, a drop of 8% from the figure for 2011 and the lowest level since national records commenced in 1926. Meanwhile 23,039 people suffered serious injuries in road crashes, 0.4% lower than the 23,122 in 2011 but 15% lower than the average for the 2005-2009 period. The number of child casualties fell 17% to 17,251 compare
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Egis has been awarded a major Turkish highway deal
June 25, 2013
Egis has signed a contract for the operation and maintenance of the Gebze-İzmir highway in Turkey. The agreement was signed with OTOYOL, the concessionaire for the Turkish General Directorate of Highways (KGM). This is the second major contract award for Egis in Turkey, following the Eurasia Tunnel deal, for a 5.4km twin-deck tunnel under the Bosphorus. OTOYOL was selected by KGM as the private concessionaire for the project. OTOYOL itself is a firm established for the purpose of the Project by five Turkish
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UK move to improve rail crossing safety
June 25, 2013
A new move by the UK Government is intended to improve safety at rail crossings following a number of fatal crashes. The Transport Select Committee will hold an inquiry into the safety of the UK’s 8,000 level crossings. This move has been welcomed by the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety (PACTS), which earlier called for the review. This move was one of seven recommendations among 113 put to the Transport Select Committee to be taken forward for its programme of activity into 2014. David D
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ARTBA opens up work zone safety awards for entrants
June 25, 2013
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association Transportation Development Foundation (ARTBA-TDF) is accepting nominations for its 2013 Roadway Work Zone Safety Awareness Awards and Contractor Safety Awards. These recognise the best successes of public and private-sector organisations involved in building the US transportation network.
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US$766.15bn to be invested in China road network expansion
June 24, 2013
Over the next 17 years, China will invest US$766.15 billion (CNY 4.70tn) to expand the country's major road network by over two times. By 2030, the length of roads in China is expected to total 5.8 million kilometres, with trunk ways and highways making up 7% of the total. Provincial and countryside roads are expected to account for 9% and 84% respectively. According to a road expansion blueprint approved in May 2013 by the State Council, the length of toll-free trunk ways and toll highways should by 2030 i
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New bill allocates US$ 5.5bn for US bridges repair
June 24, 2013
A total of US$5.5 billion has been allocated for bridges repair under a new bill introduced by democratic transport leaders led by Nick J Rahall. To date, there are over 150,000 structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges across the US, according to the US Department of Transportation. Figures showed that a quarter of bridges in the country fall into one of the two categories, with 26.7%, 27.7% and 77.4% of bridges in Virginia, Maryland and Washington falling under one of the two categories resp
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Unveiling of Australia’s WestConnex road project funding plan
June 24, 2013
The state government of New South Wales, Australia will ask the private sector to contribute to the funding of the 33km WestConnex road project. While initial sections of the road will be financed by the state government, its following phase will be financed by the private sector. For the project, a total of US$1.66 billion (AUD 1.8bn) will be allocated by the state government over a four-year period. Of the total, $102.22 million (AUD 111mn) will be spent in 2013-2014. The development was mentioned by Trea
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June 2013
June 24, 2013
Double yellow lines signify an area where parking is not allowed at any time on a UK road.
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Portuguese firm handling Venezuela highway project
June 24, 2013
A Portuguese contractor will build the new highway connecting Venezuelan capital Caracas with the city of La Guaria. The project is expected to cost some US$4.4 billion in all. The new highway will feature three lanes in either direction for much of its length. The project includes building some 9km of tunnels as well as 4km of viaducts and its construction will be to a strict timescale, all of which presents a number of challenges to the builder.
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Plans are moving ahead on the new Argentina-Chile tunnel
June 24, 2013
Plans are progressing with regard to the Agua Negra tunnel that will connect Argentina and Chile and is expected to cost in excess of US$850 million. The authorities in San Juan province are calling for proposals to construct the tunnel and have published the terms and conditions for the tender. Those interested in the project will have to submit their proposals before 4th October 2013. A number of companies have shown an interest in the project including firms from Brazil, China, Germany, South Korea, Swit
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