News

Work is now underway in Vietnam on a new tunnel and two new highway projects. The US$81 million tunnel project is being carried out under the build-operate-transfer model and lies close to the existing Hai Van tunnel, with completion due in 18 months. Construction work for the upgrade of National Highway 1A is costing some $105 million and should be complete within 24 months. The largest of the three projects however is the 140km Dan Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway, which is costing close to $1.34 billion to con

Transport infrastructure in the Republic of Moldova will benefit from loans worth a total of €300 million. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are providing the loans, which will be used to improve and upgrade existing road links and also to update Moldova’s national railway company, CFM. The road improvements will be targeted at 290km of roads in the north and central areas of Moldova.

Ministers responsible for transport infrastructure from the 54 member countries of the International Transport Forum at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) were meeting today in Leipzig, Germany, for a three-day summit to discuss the future of funding transport. According to OECD figures, air passenger travel is projected to double, air transport to triple and container handling in ports to quadruple by 2030. Investment needs for transport infrastructure to 2030 are estimated a

New road upgrades are planned in the UK to reduce congestion and improve safety for vehicle drivers. Upgrades will be carried out to the A1 west of the city of Newcastle, the A12 in Essex to the east of capital London and the M62 motorway that connects the cities of Manchester and Leeds. Studies will be carried out first to identify the needs for other routes forming the country’s strategic road network. The necessary strategy will be produced for all routes in the second quarter of 2014, allowing a network

The ERF has unveiled its strategic research priorities for road safety for Horizon 2020, the European Commission’s next multi-year framework programme for transport research and innovation. The ERF’s research road map identifies six priority areas that it believes can contribute towards reducing fatalities by 50% compared to 2010 levels. More specifically, it urges policy makers to devote research to key areas including adapting infrastructure to meet the challenges of 21st century traffic, developing alter

BMW is planning to introduce its new electric vehicle on the market in South Korea in 2014. This will be the firm’s first fully electric vehicle and will feature a top speed of 150km/h. Called the i3, the prototype of this vehicle will be unveiled shortly. Its range has not been disclosed at this stage but it is thought to feature lithium ion type batteries and sophisticated speed controls and regenerative braking features to extend the distance it can travel.

Plans are in hand in Canada to extend Highway 427 by 6.6km. The final decision over the project has yet to be made by the Ontario Government. The work is expected to cost in the region of C$500 million (US$491 million) to carry out. The work is required as the highway carries a heavy traffic volume and the extension will help reduce congestion in the surrounding area. The work should commence in 2017 once the necessary approvals have been given and the construction would then require an estimated 36 months.

In Russia’s capital Moscow the finishing touches are being put to a plan to construct the city’s first tolled link. The northern relief road for Kutuzovsky prospect is expected to cost US$1.91 billion to build and will stretch a distance of 10.3km. The tender process for the concession package is being prepared at present and is expected to open for bids shortly. Once complete the new link will connect Moscow’s business centre with Molodogvardeyskaya junction. Meanwhile in the Russian city of Tula, some 193

The debut PLANTWORX construction equipment exhibition at Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire, central England, has been hailed a success after attracting more than 11,500 visitors over the course of the three-day event. While the British weather was true to form with torrential rain for the best part of two days, serious buyers were out in in their droves. PLANTWORX also made National TV on the morning of day one (May 14 2013) – with BBC Breakfast News broadcasting live from the show, interviewing PLANTWORX or

The Towards Vision Zero Conference in Sweden looks set to offer key insight into the country’s success in tackling traffic safety. The Vision Zero concept is novel from an international perspective and the data produced so far is said to reveal that this is proving a long-term traffic safety solution. From June 4-5 2013, the Trafikverket body will be hosting the international traffic safety Towards Zero Conference, in collaboration with the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications and Transportstyr

Cambodia’s National Road 5 is to be upgraded thanks to a concession loan provided by Japan. Worth some US$90.5 million this sum will be used to improve an 83.5km stretch of the route between Battambang and Sri Sophorn. The work on National Road 5 will start in June 2015 and is expected to be complete by May 2018. Once complete the upgraded section of road will offer both safety and capacity improvements over the existing link.

Around US$2.21 billion (UAH 18bn) will be invested in road construction and repairs in Ukraine in 2013. According to infrastructure minister Vladimir Kozak, intentional financial institutions will account for around $362.49 million (UAH 3bn) of the total investments. The rest of funds will be raised under state guarantees. The most significant individual project sum of $108.74 million (UAH 900mn) will be allocated to building a bridge in Zaporozhye. The first stage will be launched in 2014.

Roads in Sydney are set to benefit as part of a huge US$1.87 billion (AUD 1.9bn) capital works spending programme for the city over the next ten years. The programme, aimed at enhancing the international reputation of the city, includes $175.01 million (AUD180mn) for new roads and footpaths in Sydney. In order to transform George Street, $213.91 million (AUD 220mn) will be spent on connecting light rail and laneways, while $388.92 million (AUD 400mn) will go on upgrading Green Square, and a further $97.23 m

The Australian Government is announcing plans to invest A$24 billion (US$23.73 billion) in transport infrastructure across the country. This will form the second part of the country’s five-year Nation Building Plan (NBP). The investment will be used to improve roads, railways and ports between 2014/2015 and 2018/2019. One stage of the NBP will involve spending A$525 million to upgrade and widen the M80 Ring Road in New South Wales (NSW) in a project that will include installing the latest traffic management

Polish road authority GDDKiA has approved the calling of 50 tenders for road construction projects worth a combined US$9.85 billion (PLN 32bn). GDDKiA has decided to allow contractors to carry out changes in one half of the projects supplied by the authority, which will, it says, allow the relations between the investor and the contractor to become more efficient. However, it can also act as an encouragement of the building companies to save on quality. Work on the road construction projects being put up fo