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Primav increases share in Brazil road management firm Ecorodovias
December 14, 2012
Brazilian infrastructure company Primav (CR Almeida) is set to increase its share in road management firm Ecorodovias. The company will acquire 19% from Italian civil engineering group Impregilo, in a deal valued at US$971.32 million (BRL 2.02bn), bringing its control over the firm from 45% to 65%. The Administrative Council for Economic Defence (Cade) has already green-lit the operation.
Road tunnel construction tender to be held in Rostov-na-Donu, south east Russia
December 14, 2012
The government of Rostov-na-Donu (South) in south east Russia has adopted a resolution on holding a tender for the right to reach a concession agreement on designing, constructing, and maintaining the Northern tunnel, which will join Rostov-on-Don city centre and a residential area in the north of Rostov-na-Donu municipality. The four-lane road will be 2.5km long. The facility capacity will total up to 60,000 cars per day. The project is estimated to cost €212.85 million (RUB 8.50bn), and the works are exp
EIB lends €900mn for Poland’s S7 and S8 dual carriageways
December 14, 2012
Polish state-owned Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) has signed a €900 million loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB). The money from the loan will be allocated via the National Road Fund (KFD) in the construction of S7 and S8 dual carriageways. The three-section S7 carriageway will be 90.5km long, while the four-section S8 carriageway will stretch over 301km. Both routes will be part of the Trans-European Networks (TEN) system.
EC may seek ‘infringement procedure’ if no Budapest congestion charge by 2015
December 14, 2012
The European Commission (EC) has urged authorities in the Hungarian capital Budapest to introduce the congestion charge in the city by 2015 at the latest or face EU legal sanctions, according to some press reports. Should the local authorities fail to take the step, the EC may launch an infringement procedure against Budapest. Thus, the city’s leaders would be obliged to repay EU funds worth €641.6 million (HUF 181bn) provided for building Budapest's Metro 4 underground line. Earlier this year, the Hungaria
Key road event planned for Russia
December 14, 2012
The Expotraffic 2013 exhibition is billed as Russia's showcase for the systems, products and services needed for safe and efficient highways operation and traffic management. The event takes place at Moscow's Expocentr from 12th–14th March 2013 and has already attracted support from organisations leading highways policy and operation in Russia. Among these is the Department for Traffic Management of the Government of Moscow. Responsible for placing and managing traffic cameras, traffic lights, and for road
Plans are in hand for a key UK parking exhibition
December 13, 2012
Plans are well in hand for the Traffex and Parkex exhibitions being held in the UK. This bi-annual event is now in its 26th year, is a three day exhibition combining two trade shows, Traffex and Parkex. Traffex is an international traffic engineering, road safety, parking and highway maintenance exhibition. Meanwhile Parkex is Europe’s largest dedicated parking exhibition. The events are co-located and will take place in Hall 5 at the NEC Birmingham from 16th – 18th April 2013. Traffex and Parkex 2013 are
Market gains are expected for tyre pressure monitoring systems
December 13, 2012
A new report by research body Frost & Sullivan says that growing replacement volumes are boosting demand for tyre pressure monitoring technology in Europe and North America. Laws requiring the installation of tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) in new vehicles are leading to an increase in the installed base of this technology in the European Union (EU) and the United States. With the proliferation of universal sensors and aggressive efforts to raise consumer awareness, the TPMS aftermarket is set for r
Major Chinese bridge innovation event
December 13, 2012
Interest is strong in the Bridge Innovation Summit 2013 (BIS2013) being held from April 25th- 26th in Beijing, according to the event organisers. The Bridge Innovation Summit 2013 will be the leading event for bridge developments in Asia, with over 20 top executives as speakers and over 150 senior executives as participants. Confirmed leading bridge related companies and organisations include Arup, BAOSTEEL Construction, COWI, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), China Railway Group and China’s
Efficient transport programme being researched in Europe
December 13, 2012
Key European Research Institutes are now involved in a project looking at innovative designs for efficient urban transport interchanges. This project on urban mobility is co-financed by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Cooperation Work Programme. City-HUB aims at contributing to the design and operation of seamless, smart, clean and safe intermodal public transport. It brings together leading experts of design and urban integration, transport operation and business, local and regional author
More electric buses are planned for Beijing
December 13, 2012
The authorities in Chinese capital Beijing are making a key move to cut transport emissions from large vehicles. Over the next two years there will be a 30% reduction in the number of diesel powered buses in the city. Around 80% of the Beijing Public Transportation Group’s 21,000 buses are currently diesel-driven. But the plan in Beijing is to increase the proportion of clean-energy and new-energy buses to 50% of the fleet in from 2013 to 2014. At present, Beijing’s bus fleet includes 100 pure electric vehi
More electric charging stations for Ireland and Northern Ireland?
December 13, 2012
A new network of fast-charging stations for electric vehicles is planned for in Ireland and Northern Ireland. EU co-financing is providing over €2 million from its TEN-T Programme to research a comprehensive network of fast charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The study will have far wider implications too than Ireland and Northern Ireland as it will provide important data policymakers can use when making decisions on the nationwide roll outs of EV infrastruct
Changes to bridge project reviews in US will speed repairs
December 13, 2012
According to the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA), changes in the way the US Government reviews bridge projects could speed repairs. ARTBA has long-advocated this change, which could save US taxpayers an estimated US$78 million and reduce wait times for repair projects on more than 196,000 bridges in the country. The decision by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) will allow the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to streamline the historic preservation proces
Czech tender interest from international companies
December 13, 2012
The tender process for upgrade works on the D1 highway in the Czech Republic is attracting international bidding. The five sections of highway are worth €173.2 million in all, with investments of €59 million planned for 2012. Companies entering bids so far include Metrostav, Skanska, Strabag, Eurovia CS, Swietelsky Stavebni, OHL ZS, Dalnicni Stavby Praha. Bidders also include several consortia including one comprising M-Silnice, Bogl a Krysl and Berger Bohemia and one made up of Hochtief CZ and Silnice Casl
November December 2012
December 13, 2012
The members of this family found out the hard way that when transporting a paint canister, it is best to keep it in the boot as in the event of even a small impact...
Fugro wins 3-year pavement assessment contract with UK council
December 13, 2012
Fugro has secured a three-year contract with Luton Borough Council in southern England to provide a range of highway and footway investigations, including the Council’s annual SCANNER surveys using Fugro’s ARAN (Automatic Road Analyser) survey system. The survey package also includes SCRIM (surface friction) testing of Luton’s A, B and C roads, and CVI (coarse visual inspection) of unclassified roads. Cambridge-based Fugro transport specialists will process the survey data to generate NI (national indicator