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Road Structures

New Colombian bridge to set records
April 30, 2019
The Pumarejo Bridge project in Colombia will beat records for Latin America when complete at the end of 2019. Measuring 38.1m in cross-section, it will be the widest bridge in Latin America when it opens to traffic and will measure 3.24km-long. The bridge will have three lanes in either direction, as well as provision for cyclists and pedestrians. The construction work is being carried out by the consortium SES Puente Magdalena, headed by Spanish company Sacyr and also including the Colombian contractor, Es
New South Wales backpedals over WestConnex cycling bridge
April 30, 2019
Controversy has again hit Australia’s WestConnex project in Sydney with media reports the a planned cycle and pedestrian bridge is to be axed. In its place will be a new raised flyover running through the residential and parkland area, according to a report in The Age newspaper. The Pedestrian and Cycling Green Link was part of the original planning permission for the US$11.85 billion WestConnex project and was to rise above parts of the surface motorway in Rozelle and Lilyfield neighbourhoods. The
Paruvian road concession package cancelled
April 26, 2019
The concession package for Peru’s Vía Expresa Sur road project is being cancelled. The deal was originally awarded to the Peruvian company, Grana y Montero (GyM). However the involvement of Brazilian firm Odebrecht in the project have resulted in the deal being cancelled. Odebrecht has been linked to string of corruption scandals. The tender process for the 5km road section will be reopened as a result. The project is intended to cut journey times in Lima, with the work expected to cost US$200 million.
Qatar starts work on the state’s longest cable stayed bridge
April 23, 2019
Qatar has started construction of a 1.2km cable-stayed bridge that will be the longest in the Gulf state. The bridge will have 20 pylons and 16 piers to reach the highest point of 30m. It is part of the Sabah Al-Ahmad Corridor project, according to the Public Works Authority of Qatar (Ashgal). With four lanes in each direction, the bridge will accommodate more than 16,000 vehicles a hour, according to Ashghal engineer Abdullah al-Naiemi. Comnpletion is set for early 2021. Meahwhile, the Haloul Int
The Lessons of the Genoa bridge collapse
April 23, 2019
The partial collapse of the Polcevera viaduct, better known as the Morandi Bridge, has prompted debate regarding the technical and administrative aspects of maintaining road infrastructures. We discussed it with the engineer Gabriele Camomilla, former Director of Research and Maintenance of the Società Autostrade, who coordinated the only major structural intervention performed on the bridge, carried out in the early 1990s
Lativa shuts down Riga’s Deglava Bridge amid safety concerns
April 23, 2019
Latvia’s interior affairs minister Sandis Ģirģens has ordered the closure of Deglava Bridge from today, 25 April, declaring is a safety risk. “I believe there are enough factors to conclude this bridge puts people’s lives at risk,” said Ģirģens, as reported by national media. If the city doesn’t close the bridge today, Ģirģens said the national State Police will. Latvia's State Construction Control Bureau last week ordered the closure of the bridge after inspectors found that the bridge's supportin
Serbia inks two road deals with China at 16plus1 summit
April 23, 2019
Serbia said it signed two road construction agreements with China during the 16plus1 Summit in Dubrovnik, Croatia earlier this month. The two deals are for construction of the Pozega-Boljare and Novi Beograd-Surcin road routes. The Pozega-Boljare project alone is worth €2 billion and will be financed from the existing loan from the Exim Bank, according to media reports. China’s east-west Belt and Road Initiative was the focus of the annual 16plus1 Summit that brought together leaders from Beijing plus
Chilean road tender due to open
April 18, 2019
The tender process is due to open for a major road project in Chile. The budget for the project has now been increased from US$520 million to $800 million as extra works have now been included in the project. The work will be carried out on the Talca-Chillan section of Ruta 5, the main north-south highway in Chile. The winner of the tender process will carry out the construction work and then have a 10 year concession package to manage the highway. Rute 5 is one of the most important highways in Chile, stre
Chile road project, tender process opening
April 17, 2019
The tender process is opening for an important road project for Chile. The bidding process for the 142km road upgrade project is opening at the end of May 2019, with construction expected to start in 2021 once the necessary permissions process and financing package has been finalised. The work is for the improvement of the Camino de la Fruta road link, Chile’s Ruta 66. This road runs from San Antonio on the coast and connects with the country’s key north-south link, Ruta 5, at Pelequén to the north of San F
Russian road and bridge deal
April 17, 2019
A new bypass and bridge project for Tolyatti will commence in Russia’s Samara region. The bridge will span the Volga River and the work is costing US$462.4 million. The funds will be allocated in three stages. The first tranche will be received in 2019, while the second and third will be transferred in 2020 and 2021 respectively. The 97km road project includes the 3.75km bridge link, with opening due in 2024.