News

A steady reduction in road crashes and fatalities has been noted for key developed nations, according to the International Transport Forum (ITF) Road Safety Annual Report 2013. However there remains a need for further action to reduce casualty levels further. Particular concern has been expressed for vulnerable road users where casualty statistics remain high. Motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists still suffer worrying high levels of crashes, more often victims of poor road use by others. Meanwhile anothe

The crawler excavator operator in this incident had a close call when the bridge being demolished collapsed unexpectedly. The accident happened in Norway during the demolition of an old highway bridge.

A steady reduction in road crashes and fatalities has been noted for key developed nations, according to the International Transport Forum (ITF) Road Safety Annual Report 2013. However there remains a need for further action to reduce casualty levels further. Particular concern has been expressed for vulnerable road users where casualty statistics remain high. Motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists still suffer worrying high levels of crashes, more often victims of poor road use by others. Meanwhile anothe

A steady reduction in road crashes and fatalities has been noted for key developed nations, according to the International Transport Forum (ITF) Road Safety Annual Report 2013. However there remains a need for further action to reduce casualty levels further. Particular concern has been expressed for vulnerable road users where casualty statistics remain high. Motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists still suffer worrying high levels of crashes, more often victims of poor road use by others. Meanwhile anothe

The Polish regional government of the Malopolskie voivodeship has decided to allocate US$629.16 million (PLN 2bn) to road projects from its EU budget for 2014-2020. Rail projects will also receive $62.76 million (PLN 200mn), with Szybka Kolej Aglomeracyjna (SKA) to be one of the beneficiary projects.

Russia's government has approved a US$20.77 billion (RUB 664bn) programme for new transport and other infrastructure ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. According to published documents, the federal budget will account for 50% of the total. Regional budgets and private investors will provide the rest.

The Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) has unveiled a US$81.02 billion (SEK 522bn) plan for national transport systems in 2014-15. Around $43.66 billion (SEK 281 billion) of the budget been earmarked for transport system development, $24.05 billion (SEK 155bn) will be spent on road maintenance, and $13.34 billion (SEK 86bn) have been earmarked for railway maintenance. The Transport Administration’s plan also includes investment in speed cameras along 60,000kms of road as well as around 100 cros

Financing for Slovakia’s new D3 highway project will be sourced from the European Commission. The D3 lies in the north of this small country and the project has been the focus for intensive discussions over its importance and even, the need for its construction. When it is complete the D3 will connect with Poland and the Czech Republic and will help improve connectivity in the area, and it is this point that the Slovakian Transport Ministry has used as a bargaining tool in its discussions in Brussels. It is

A Taiwanese-owned construction company will build a new road in Vietnam’s Quang Hing Province. The new road will measure 20km long and will connect Ha Long City and Bach Dang Bridge. Costing close to US$276 million to construct, the road will connect with the existing Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway. The work is being carried out under the build-transfer model and is due for completion by 2015. The new road will feature four lanes in all, with two lanes in either direction, and the project includes the construct

Connectivity will be improved in Papua New Guinea (PNG) following completion of three new road projects for which construction is now commencing. The PNG Government is planning works for three new roads, which will cost some US$134 million to construct. The work includes improving a section of road that connects 9-Mile junction and Erima from three-lane to four lanes and this project will be carried out by Dekenai Construction.

A further US$94.08 million (£60mn) is to be spent on fixing the Hammersmith flyover “monstrosity” in west London, England. Transport for London (TfL) is to fund a second phase of repairs to the structure’s badly corroded arches due to start in October 2013. The flyover was shut to all traffic just before Christmas 2011 to allow initial emergency arch repairs – leading to huge traffic chaos in west London – before being partially reopened a few weeks later. It was not fully opened until late May 2012.

The News South Wales state government in Australia has US$542.6 million (AUD 564.6mn) for preparatory works for the construction of the Ballina-Woolgoolga section of the Pacific Highway. Under the project, a 155km road is to be built between Ballina and Woolgoolga, while a 2km exit road to Ballina Bypass, wildlife crossings and bridges over Emigrant and Duck creeks as well as Richmond and Clarence rivers will be constructed. Funds for the preparatory works are to be shared equally by the state government an

The Ethiopian Roads Authority has awarded a contract worth at least US$149.77 million (ETB 2.8bn) for a road upgrade to two China-based firms, with works due to be wrapped up in 36 months. Under the deal, the two companies are to upgrade a 133km road between the districts of Mille and Kombolcha from gravel to asphalt-concrete roads. Money for the works is being sourced from a loan extended by the World Bank.

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that strong demand for TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants is continuing. Once again the number of applications has surpassed the available funding. Applications to the US Department of Transportation for TIGER 2013 grants totalled more than US$9 billion, far exceeding the $474 million set aside for the programme. The Department received 568 applications from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and