News

UK-based driving group the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) is launching its new winter driving campaign. The IAM’s winter driving campaign is intended to help motorists prepare their cars and drive them safely this winter. The campaign includes a website, drivingadvice.org.uk, containing advice, traffic updates and weather forecasts. The IAM will also be publishing weekly news releases and driving tips in reaction to the winter weather as part of the campaign.

A new bridge link will be constructed between Botswana and Zambia in Southern Africa. Some of the funding for the bridge is being provided in the form of a US$113 million loan from the Japanese Government. The Kazungula bridge project is expected to cost $260 million in all. Close to $78.5 million is coming from the African Development Bank and Zambia is providing $1.6 million while the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will offer $42 millionn. The work will commence in 2014 and the bridge sh

China’s Liaoning Province is expanding its highway network with a programme of upgrades and new construction. By the end of 2015 Liaoning Province will have up to 4,500km of highways. The province is building some 2,600km of highways for the 2011-2015 period. In all there will be 20 new highways, with the work costing US$14.36 billion in all. The authorities in the province are also spending $17.5 billion on road development during the 2011-2015 period.

Vietnam's Quang Ninh province has backed a new design proposed by Japanese developer SE Group for the 4.3km Bach Dang Bridge. The new design will change the original prestressed concrete bridge design to a steel cable-stayed bridge. The modification will lower the girder height, reduce the bridge length and alter the main span length. The altered draft is awaiting final approval from the authorities. SE Group has also requested to cut the expenses for the project to US $ 386 million from $ 483 million. The

The length of highways in Henan Province, China will be increased by around 1,460km to 8,070km by 2020 under a highway network revision plan unveiled by the provincial government. The Henan government is considering three highways with a total length of about 512km and 10 that span a combined 948km. Henan already has the longest highways of all Chinese provinces.

Strong interest is being shown in the project to build the new Chacao Bridge in Chile. The country’s Ministry of Public Works has said that 41 companies have bought details of the terms and conditions for the tender to build the bridge. Around 70% of the firms interested come from outside Chile. The bridge will be located in Chiloe and is expected to cost in the region of US$740 million to construct. Chile’s Ministry of Public Works hopes that additional firms will purchase the tender details before the dea

As the United Arab Emirates gears up to invest more than US $4.6 billion (UAE Dirham 17 billion) in its nationwide road network in the next few years, the second annual INTERMAT Middle East show has taken place in Abu Dhabi with suppliers like AAA Cranes, Miller UK, Kanoo, Liebherr, Sennebogen, WireCo World, Erkat, Terex Finlay, Atlas Copco, , ELSA SRL, Robit Rock Tools, Ramtec Robi, Scheuerle Fahrzeugfabrik, T.G.S – The Grab Specialist, BV Beco, Techking Tires, Blastrac, SK Solutions, Xcentric Internationa

New finance packages are now available for Caterpillar customers based in Africa, following an agreement between Cat Financial Services and Standard Bank. Standard Bank is Africa’s largest banking group and has set up a collaboration agreement with Dubai-based Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited (Cat Financial). This new partnership will offer a range of financial services to Caterpillar customers in six African countries. The collaboration will be branded Cat Financial Services, Services Provide

The Moscow authorities are holding a tender for building a section of Moscow - St.Petersburg highway. The project includes construction of a North Literal Highway section with 15 viaducts. The maximum contract price has been set at US $ 953.12 million (RUB 29.70bn). The tender results will be announced on 30 October 2012. The works must be implemented within 24 months. Mostotrest and Transstroy can take part in the tender. Engeocom is not going to participate.

A major dispute could arise following the cancellation of the project in Italy to construct the Messina Strait Bridge.

The bauma 2013 construction equipment exhibition in Munich is set to be the largest event in the show’s history. Organised by Messe München, this will be the 30th bauma exhibition in Munich and will run from the 15th-21st April 2013, with the show covering some 570,000m2 and attracting 3,300 exhibitors. Some 450,000 visitors are expected to attend and Dr Wolf-Dietrich Müller, chief representative and senior executive officers of capital goods shows for the Messe München said, “We are able to increase our ca

Construction firm Hutama Karya (HK) of Indonesia says it will next year begin to build the US $ 34.3 billion (IDR 330trn) 2,700km long Trans-Sumatra toll road. Phase 1 of the project will be carried out by the company and a subsidiary, Jalan Tol Hutama Karya, will be set up to work on the project, said Ari Widiyantoro, corporate secretary of HK.

A minimum of US $ 14.08 billion out of an overall Philippines public investment need of $ 16.79 billion has reportedly been earmarked by the Government for highways projects. Goals have been set by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to enlarge 12,236m of current bridges, mend national bridges measuring 58,592m, to replace broken bridges covering 19,725m, and to lay new bridges with a combined length of 18,255m.

The tender process has opened for a major highway business in Italy. The sale is for an 80.5% stake in highway operator Autostrade Milano Serravalle-Milano Tangenziali (Milano Serravalle). The deal is expected to be worth more than €1 billion in all. The packages for sale are the 52.9% held by the province of Milan through holding Asam; the 18.6% held by the municipality of Milan, and the 9% held by the municipalities of Lecco, Como and Pavia and the provinces of Como and Pavia. The basic cost of the tender

A new highway project being proposed for Malaysia will improve connectivity for the country’s Kuantan and Johor Baru regions. This new route will initially measure 350km but could then be extended to connect with neighbouring Thailand and become the main East Coast highway. The project has been put forward by the Pahang Federation of Chinese Associations (Huazong). Construction of this link could provide major economic benefits to the Kuantan and Johor Baru regions and in the long term would help promote tr