News

The commencement of work on a key road project in Mexico that will link Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido has now been delayed for 30 months. The project is expected to cost US$318 million to build and the construction work will start in January 2012. Once the highway is complete it will reduce the journey time between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido from the current 6-7 hours to just 2-2.5 hours. Omega has awarded the work to contractor ICA. Delays with the project have been a result of Omega having difficulties in

Australia’s Government will invest US$12.4 billion (A$12.5 billion) on the country’s road network in the 2014-2015 financial year. This does represent a decline from the $16 billion (A$16.1 billion) invested in roads by the Australian Government in the last financial year however.

The authorities in the Russian city of St Petersburg will spend some US$514.6 million on road construction and reconstruction during 2012. The city authorities will use public and private partnerships to push ahead with planned road infrastructure projects. Private investors will be invited to participate in construction of two highways with bridges across the Neva River, a highway with a bridge at the intersection of Fayansovaya and Zolnaya streets, and the Northern highway #7 connecting Arsenalnaya embank

Plans are in hand in Canada for repairs to the Gardiner Expressway near Toronto over the next 10 years. The plans call for repair works worth US$147 million (C$150 million) in all. The City of Toronto in Canada will provide some $14.7 million/year (C$15 million/year) during the 10 year period. So far, around $2.94 million (C$3 million) has been spent on maintaining expressway and the spending is set to hit $9.8 million (C$10 million) for 2012. At the same time a solution is being sought with regard to concr

The famous Spaghetti Junction in Birmingham, central England marks its 40th birthday this week. A firm divider of opinion among the millions of motorists that use it each year, its sprawling concrete arteries at junction six of the M6 connect the A38(M) Aston Expressway into central Birmingham. Officially opened on 24 May 1972, the Gravelly Hill Interchange – Spaghetti Junction’s official name - took four years to build and cost between £9m and £10m. It was subsequently dubbed Spaghetti Junction by newspap

The organisers of the bauma 2013 exhibition in Munich have revealed that 11 months before the show is due to open, all stand space has been sold. This is despite the fact that the exhibition space has been extended to a record 570,000m2. Organised by Messe München, the International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines, Construction Vehicles and Construction Equipment now has a waiting list for all of its sections. Located in the Bavarian capital Munich, this is

Europe’s drivers will be able to save enormous sums of money if ambitious fuel economy targets are introduced by the EU this July. This claim has been made by a former UK Environment Agency chief, Malcolm Fergusson. His study predicts that annual fuel costs for Europe’s drivers could fall by about 23% by 2020 if the currently expected EU fuel efficiency target of 95grammes of CO2 emissions/km for new cars and 147grammes/km for vans is confirmed by the European Commission in July, as expected. If the target

European road safety targets and casualty reduction plans are to benefit from meeting the 2013 deadline for cross border enforcement. The member states will have to meet the deadline of 7th November 2013 for the Cross Border Enforcement Directive, or risk facing infringement proceedings. The issue is a key one as many drivers commit offences in EU nations other than their own, without having to face penalties. Bureaucracy makes it hard for drivers to face penalties when they return home. In some instances t

A report by Goldman Sachs reveals Russia’s requirement for further infrastructure investment. The report, Russian Infrastructure and Construction, shows that investments in transport corresponded to 1.5-1.7% of GDP in 2005-2010. For Russia’s total infrastructure needs, including power networks and communications, spending equated to 3.7-4.3% of GDP. But the report shows Russia should allocate at least 3.5-4.5% of its GDP to infrastructure while maintenance of existing infrastructure should make up about 50%

The European construction contractors and equipment manufacturers associations (the FIEC and CECE respectively) are calling for increased spending on infrastructure in a bid to stimulate economic growth. “Our industry looks forward to the implementation of the right policies and incentives to nurture sustainable growth and jobs”, said Ralf Wezel, CECE secretary general, during a recent debate organised by the European Forum for Manufacturing (EFM) in the European Parliament.

A series of industrial engines from Deutz is now available that can run on 100% biodiesel. These new engines feature 2000bar injection systems and meets Stage IIIB standards for exhaust emissions. These are claimed to be the first production engines running on biogenic fuels, however the firm adds that it recommends use of Biodiesel Quality Assurance Working Group (AGQM) certified biodiesel. The company says that it is confirming its position in the market by releasing its exhaust emissions standard Stage I

Despite a slight slow-down in the pace of economic growth in China, market confidence remains strong in the country. The organisers of the upcoming bauma China event, from November 27 to 30 2012, say that China is still a key market for the global construction sector. Supported by a booming domestic market, the Chinese construction machinery manufacturers are also making ground on the international front. The exhibition is an international trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, c

Details from the Italian construction equipment manufacturing asscoaition, UNACEA, show that domestic machine sales are still falling, while exports keep on growing. However exports are growing at a slower rate than in 2011. Over the first quarter of 2012, 1,820 construction machines were sold on the Italian market, a drop of 22.4% from the same period in 2011. These included 1,734 earthmoving machines, a fall of 22.4% compared to the first quarter of 2011, while there were 40 road machines sold, a drop of

Teledata World Services has signed a letter of intent to acquire all of the equity of Superior Traffic Controls, a developer and manufacturer of roadside safety and incident management products. The transaction will result in the majority shareholders of Superior becoming the majority shareholders of the Teledata and comes at the conclusion of a two-year search for a new business opportunity Teledata could merge with or acquire.