Road Structures

Versatile test boreholing rig from Central Alliance

May 22, 2018

A new modular rig from Central Alliance is said to opens access to areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach with conventional equipment. The firm says it has designed and built an innovative modular rig for use on difficult access areas. The modular rig was constructed in-house by Central Alliance’s development department, and can complete all the operations possible with a tracked rig including Standard Penetration Tests (SPT) and Cone Penetration Tests (CPT) at 1m intervals, U38, U70, U100 and U

Mexico’s new highway link

May 18, 2018

The first section of the Cardel-Poza Rica highway has now been opened to traffic. The highway is in Mexico’s Veracruz State and the 30-year concession is being handled jointly by Mota-Engil and PRODI, which was awarded the tender by Mexico’s Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT) in mid-2014 with a bid of US$266.5 million. This first stretch of the highway that is now in use is the 55km section that runs from Nautla to Gutierrez Zamora. This stretch features 11 bridges, 11 underpasses and five

All-terrain crane additions to ILC fleet

May 18, 2018

A key logistics provider in the Middle East, Integrated Logistics Company (ILC), has bought the first two Demag AC 300-6 all-terrain cranes from Terex Cranes. ILC says that it plans to put the cranes to work at several jobsites throughout the Gulf region. The new six-axle Demag AC 300-6 all-terrain crane offers a 300tonne maximum lifting capacity and features an 80m main boom. This new six-axle Demag all terrain crane is said to offer versatility needed for carrying out demanding jobs for lower operational

Polish tunnel project appeal

May 18, 2018

Italian contractor Astaldi will construct the 1.76km-long road tunnel underneath the Swina River in northern Poland.

Potain’s new tower crane for global markets

May 16, 2018

Potain is launching its first hydraulic topless luffing jib crane, following tests on site with select dealers in Thailand, Australia and New Zealand. It is the first topless luffing jib model from Potain and its novel hydraulic technology is said to make it easier to assemble and faster to operate. Featuring new technology, the crane is said to combine the advantages of Potain’s MCR luffing jib cranes and MCT topless cranes. The machine is said to be straightforward to assemble and disassemble the crane

Controversial Russian bridge opens

May 16, 2018

The first stage of a controversial Russian bridge project is now complete, with the link opening to use by cars. The Kerch Strait bridge spans the Black Sea, connecting Russia’s Taman Peninsula in Krasnodar with Crimea, the latter having been controversially annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014. The official opening of the 19km-long bridge was carried out by Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, who drove across the link in a Kamaz truck to reach the city of Kerch. The US$2.7 billion bridge forms part of

Egypt’s canal tunnel project

May 16, 2018

Major progress is being achieved on Egypt’s key tunnel project, a link that runs underneath the Suez Canal.

Bilbao plan to cut congestion

May 15, 2018

Bilbao in northern Spain is suffering from increasing levels of vehicle congestion, a problem the city authorities intend to tackle. Two major civil engineering projects have been proposed in a bid to address the problem. One of the projects would be to drive a 3km tunnel under the main estuary, improving transport and traffic flow between the north and south of the city. The tender process for a feasibility study into this project I being put to tender. Meanwhile the second major project proposed would be

Bridge safety should become a key US concern

May 14, 2018

Bridge safety is a key concern in the US, where so many structures are deficient - *Mary Scott Nabers. There are more than 54,000 structurally deficient bridges in the US. That designation does not mean the bridges are in imminent danger of collapsing, but it does mean that they need immediate attention. That fact becomes more alarming when one realises that every day more than 174 million motorists drive over the nation’s structurally deficient bridges. And, there are no plans for repairing the majority of

Champlain Bridge set to open by end of year, says SNC-Lavalin

May 14, 2018

The Canadian city’s replacement Champlain Bridge will open on schedule at the end of the year. Montreal, one of Canada’s largest cities, will have a well-earned Christmas present in December when the new Champlain Bridge opens after 42 months of construction. The new bridge, part of a six-lane 6km corridor including roads, is being built alongside the original bridge over the Saint Lawrence River and Seaway canal system. The new bridge, 3.4km long, runs from the île des Soeurs to Brossard, immediately dow