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After many delays work is now progressing on the expansion of Bulgaria’s highway network. The authorities in Sofia plan to commence construction of the 33km Vratsa-Botevgrad link in the west of the country and the project is expected to cost in the region of €188 million. Meanwhile Turkish input is to be withdrawn from the Ruse-Svilengrad highway project. However, Qatar and Bulgaria remain committed to the project, which will eventually provide a link between Romania and Greece. Running through Bulgaria, th

Authorities in the Czech capital Prague are looking at options to speed the completion of a new ring road. Constructing the internal ring road on a fast-track basis could cost in the order of €81.5 million (CZK2 billion). Should this move be made the route could be ready to carry traffic by 2015. Prague suffers heavy congestion at peak periods, particularly in the historic city centre. The new road would help reduce the need for drivers travelling through the congested centre and help cut journey times over

The European Commission (EC) has launched a new award that encourages the adoption of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMPs) by local and regional authorities. Under the inaugural theme 'stakeholder and citizen participation', local and regional authorities can submit their SUMPs for award consideration at www.dotherightmix.eu EC vice-president Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said: “'Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans can help cities and towns offer their citizens integrated mobility options that ar

Road deaths in France were down 7.6% in August 2012 compared to the same month in 2011. In total, 342 people were killed in road accidents. During the first eight months of 2012, road deaths were down 8.9% compared to the same period of 2011, despite a 3.6% increase during the month of July. Between September 2011 and August 2012, the number of deaths was 3,728. As of 1 November, 2012, it will be compulsory to have a breathalyser in every vehicle. This move comes in addition to the 3,900 speed cameras which

Several leading Italian and international funds and industrial groups are reportedly looking into the feasibility of uniting all the major motorway construction projects in the north-east of Italy. The aim of the scheme would be to buy into the capital of one of the holdings and then work to buy stakes in the other firms, which are currently mostly under state control. The conglomeration of the three major firms Serravalle, Autostrada Serenissima and Autovie Venete, to be carried out over five years, would

The major investor in a 13.4km tunnel road project set to link Co Ma Commune in Khanh Hoa Province and Hao Son Commune in Phu Yen Province in Vietnam has been told by a senior Government figure that the project must be completed by 2016.

China’s Anhui province will be spending US$40.06billion (CNY 250bn) on road construction by the end of 2016. The province has been forecast to have 3,500km of Class 1 road and over 1,500km of highway by the end of that period. The province is also set to have six civil airports by December 2016.