News

In the Czech Republic work is now on-going to provide ground support for the last stretch of the D8 highway project. This section of the highway runs through the Ceske Stredohori Mountains. The work is needed to reduce the risk from mudslides along a specific stretch of the highway

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has selected a consortium for the 45-year Mumbai Trans Harbour Link concession. The consortium comprises Spanish firm, OHL Concesiones, Indian firm, Gammon Infrastructure Projects, and South Korean firm, GS Engineering & Construction. The 22km highway will connect Sewri with Nhava andwill include a 16km bridge over the bay of Mumbai. Meanwhile the authorities in Uttar Pradesh state are planning to invest US$279.54 million in road improvements during the

The Ministry of Public Works in Indonesia has allocated US$5.33 billion (IDR 50.35 trillion) for a development master plan set to include improvements to vital access and toll roads. Among the projects in the Acceleration and Expansion of Economy Development master plan up until 2014 are access roads from Nabire to Narotali; from Manokwari to Sorong in Papua; from Sei Mangke to Kuala Tanjung in North Sumatra; and from Tanjung Priok to the Metropolitan Priority Area. It also includes the Cileunyi-Sumedang-D

The Brazilian government is preparing the fourth stage of motorway concession auctions which include the construction of 4,000kms of roads in the South American country. A new call for tender will comprise projects in the Northern, North-Eastern, Central-Western, and South-Eastern regions of Brazil. Bids have been asked to not only refer to the overall cost of the project, but to also cover possible toll charges after its conclusion, in order to moderate the impact on agricultural haulage.

An environmental impact assessment and feasibility studies will be carried out on the first phase of the proposed Northern Expressway in Sri Lanka. The earmarked key highway route will link Colombo with Jaffna in the north of the country. Phase one of the project will cost an estimated US$ 1billion.

The European Commission is announcing its new engine emission categories as well as the introduction of new stages. The consultation document will include new categories in the directive for non-road mobile machinery engine emissions. New stage IV limits will be proposed for diesel engines with power outputs of less than 19kW and over 560kW, as well as for spark ignition engines. New stages will be introduced for engine power ranges that are already regulated at present, including new stage IV limits for di

Sophisticated vehicle technologies will derive from a new investment by a Chinese manufacturer into UK research. Car company FAW is providing Nottingham University with a €1.3 million (£1 million), three year research contract. Under the terms of the agreement, Nottingham University will work with FAW on the development of a number of low carbon technologies. These will include thermal management and heat transfer, which have been identified as key challenges for both hybrid electric and pure electric vehic

Bolivian president Evo Morales has decided to put his plans to build a new highway through the Amazon jungle to the vote. Morales is going to ask the affected communities directly if they want the new road or not, after a noisy protest campaign against the plan caused him to think more deeply.

New Zealand prime minister John Key led an official ground-breaking ceremony this week to allow the start of excavation work for two new 2.4km-long motorway tunnels beneath suburban Auckland. The Waterview Connection project is on schedule to begin its main construction phase next year, and the prime minister was on hand to turn the first soil for a 30m-deep trench which is needed to allow access for the tunnels’ southern approach trench in the west Auckland suburb of Owairaka.

Clean diesel engines will continue to be the dominant power source for heavy-duty vehicles in the United States for "decades to come because of their power and efficiency," according to a newly released study prepared for the US Department of Energy.

A new report from a Washington, DC, energy policy group urges the federal government to begin allocating its US$150 billion budget for transport services to carriers that fuel their fleets on domestically produced natural gas, electricity, biofuels and other alternatives to diesel and gasoline.

An inspection carried out by German specialists has highlighted technical issues with five bridges in the Czech city of Ostrava. The Czech Road and Motorway Headquarters (RSD) has said that a more comprehensive study will be required before the type of repairs needed can be identified and a programme of works established. There have been questions over the scope and accuracy of the one day inspection however.

Equipment auction specialist Ritchie Bros is planning a huge sale of used equipment in the US state of North Carolina in September 2012. This unreserved sale of equipment includes no less than 60 Caterpillar D11 bulldozers as well as 20 other bulldozers. Also up for auction are over 30 large wheeled loaders and over 35 Caterpillar 777 trucks, as well as graders and other items of machinery. This particular sale is of note as the 60 D11 bulldozers are more than the firm has sold of this model over the last f

A survey carried out by the UK’s Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) points to tougher sentencing for driving offenders. According to the survey, 80% of respondents said that repeat drink drive offenders should have their vehicles seized and sold or scrapped. The poll also said that 50% of respondents think that this should also happen to drivers caught several times over the limit. The respondents were also behind reducing the drink-drive limit, with 66% wanting to see the limit reduced. Most said it sho