News

The Turkish General Directorate of Motorways (KGM) aims to build over 2,000km of roads in 2013. They will consist of 998km single-platform roads and 1070.5km of dual carriageway. Out of the total duel carriageway, 20.5km will be added to motorways and 1,050km to state roads. Almost 20,000km roads will be asphalt covered or repaired. KGM currently manages 63,250km state roads and 2,250km of motorways in Turkey. It plans to build a total of 9,700km dual carriageway and 5,550km motorways by 2023.

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) said sharply lower global demand, especially in the mining sector, during the first three months of 2013 had caused its 33% net sales decline in the quarter to US$1.829 billion (SEK 12,136mn). The Swedish construction equipment manufacturing giant’s operating income was also down in Q1 2013 to $75.38 million (SEK 500mn), compared to $314.97 million (SEK 2,089mn) in the first quarter of 2012, while operating margin was 4.1%, down from 11.6% in Q1 2012. Volvo CE said it

Mott MacDonald, the global engineering, management and development consultant, is to acquire the Johannesburg-based engineering specialist, PD Naidoo & Associates. Under the deal which will see the activities of the two companies in southern Africa come together to create an 800-employee concern, the new Mott MacDonald PDNA business will provide a much extended, multi-sector capability for the entire sub-Saharan region. Subject to approval by the Competition Commission of South Africa, the move is said to b

The Thai government has prioritised the construction of five roads worth US$9.27 billion (THB 267bn) and totalling 705km in length by 2020. Chula Sukmanop, director general for Thailand’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, said that three of the new roads will be financed by a loan secured by the government. The new highways being built include Bang Pa-in-Nakhon Sawan Road at a cost of $1.293 billion (THB 37.3bn) and Nakhon Pathom-Cha-am Road at a cost of $1.529 billion (THB 44.10bn). The

An event has been staged to encourage investment in a number of highway build-operate-transfer (BOT) projects in China's Sichuan province. The Sichuan BOT projects include the US$2.22 billion 90km Pingwu-Guangyuan highway; the $2.612 billion 122km Wanyuan-Bazhong highway; the 72km $1.41 billion Bazhong-Cangxi highway; and the $2.147 billion 122km Cangxi-Mianyang highway

Colombia’s road administration body Instituto Nacional de Vias (Invias) will carry out investments of around US$247.62 million (COP 455bn) in infrastructure projects in 2013. Some of the Invias projects include the construction of several roads, such as Tumaco-Pasto-Mocoa, with an investment of $40.81 million (COP 75bn), San Miguel-Santana with an investment of $16.32 million (COP 30bn), and Popayan-La Plata, at a cost of $10.88 million (COP 20bn). Furthermore, Invias will also invest $69.66 million (COP 12

Survey specialist Fugro is setting out plans for an upcoming highways seminar, which will be held in July 2013 in Birmingham. The firm has been involved with the Developments in Pavement Assessment conference for the last 12 years and is now relaunching the event with a broader view to include all elements of the highway network. The 13th edition of the one day conference is now being retitled Developments in Highways Assessment (DIHA). The event is aimed at highway engineers, network and asset managers, th

South Africa is planning to increase the number of toll roads in the country in a bid to improve transport connections. The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) has announced a plan to build new links with the N12 running from Kimberley to Johannesburg, the N3 connecting Durban and Pietermaritzburg and the N1 linking Kroonstad and Winburg. These projects come in addition to work on the Musina N1 Ring Road and the N1 Botlokwa Interchange.

In Bolivia work is in hand on a new road that will improve connections from the country to Argentina and Peru. The road will link El Desaguadero, in La Paz, and Bermejo y Villazon, in Tarija. The 1,459km road is expected to cost around US$635 million and is due for completion by July 2014. So far 581km of the road has been completed.

Following a recent earthquake in China, the roads and highways had to be cleared quickly to allow emergency deliveries, as well as general transport. One key bridge was blocked by a massive boulder that had been dislodged by the quake. As the boulder was too large to move using the excavators or bulldozers that the bridge could support, a decision was made to use blasting instead to clear the path. A drilling rig was brought into place and this machine bored a blasthole into the errant boulder, with the hol

Cummins and LiuGong are increasing their partnership in China, while Dana is opening a new research and development facility in the country. The first engines built in the Chinese joint venture facility established by Cummins and LiuGong are now rolling off the production line. The factory, located in Liuzhou in Guangxi Province, is part of a 50:50 partnership between the two companies called Guangxi Cummins Engine Company. The facility is now making L9.3 engines to meet the demand of both LiuGong and other

A Russian construction company recently visited the Kolberg-Pioneer, (KPI-JCI) factory in Yankton, South Dakota, USA, to review its purchase of KPI-JCI material handling equipment that has never before been used in the country. Nikolai Skripal and his wife, Svetlana, owners of Gazpromdorstroy Construction Company in Orenburg, Russia, visited the manufacturing facility to approve the shipment of its new KPI-JCI 52S Pugmill system and conveyor. The 52S Pugmill system is the first of its kind shipped from KPI

Powerscreen distributor Kwintmadi-Lonmadi has been helping local contractors fulfill material requirements in advance of the 2014 Winter Olympics in the Black Sea holiday resort of Sochi. Kwintmadi-Lonmadi was appointed as European Russia distributor in 2011 and in its first year has been awarded the title of Powerscreen Dealer of the Year, 2012. Its first customer to buy a Powerscreen XA400S jaw crusher is heavily involved in the preparations for the Winter Olympic Games, having won various contracts in So

More than US$260 million will be spent on creating a 157.5km-long link road between Kenya and Tanzania. Of the total with $262.2 million project cost, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has offered a loan of $232.5 million, while the Africa Trade Fund will provide a trade grant of $740,000. The governments of Kenya and Tanzania have pledged $12.3 million and $15.6 million respectively. The project consists of a stretch between Voi and Taveta, Kenya as well as another between Holili and Arusha, Tanzania, an