Road Structures

The Ethiopian Government has set out plans for a major programme of road development work to expand the country’s network. In all 58 road projects are being planned, with the programme having been set out by the Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA). The plans call for 3,171km of roads to be built in all. These will be constructed in Tigray, Oromia and Amhara, with work commencing shortly and expected to take three years to complete. The Ethiopian Government will spend US$1.5 billion on the work, with a further $

Work is well underway on a new road and tunnel project, which will provide an improved connection between the Colombian city of Medellin and its airport. The new link will measure 24km long in all and the construction work is expected to cost over US$342 million, with completion due at the end of 2018. The project is known overall as the Oriente Tunnel, with the work being carried out as a concession by Concesion Tunel Aburrá-Oriente. The project comprises four sections in all. These are the 786m Seminario

Chile is opening seven major infrastructure projects to tender before March 2018. The projects have a total value of US$1.99 billion in all. The tenders being planned include those for the Camino de la Fruta road project and the Ruta G-21 road project.

The preferred route has been announced for a new road and tunnel link on the A303 route in the UK that will bypass the famous Stonehenge stone circle. The project now finally looks as if it might go ahead after years of debate, although several hurdles have yet to be passed. The work calls for the construction of a new 13km dual carriageway link and includes a 2.6km stretch of tunnel. The new route will be located further away from Stonehenge and the tunnel is being built

Colombia's strong focus on infrastructure development from 2011-2017 has seen the country make vast improvements to its road network. In all the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) has invested US$7.94 billion in the construction of 1,435km of new roads as well as over 200 new bridges. Colombia’s capital Bogota has benefited from a series of transport projects during this period. Meanwhile four highway projects will improve Bogota’s connections with the rest of the country.

Financing for a 240km toll road project that will connect Padang with Pekanbaru in Indonesia still needs to be finalised. A combination of loans from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and PPP funding is expected to pay for the project. In all the project is expected to cost US$2.63 billion, with construction work intended to start in 2018.

The new Mixcoac-Insurgentes twin tube tunnel in Mexico City has now been opened officially. The link joins with the Circuito Interior highway and is untolled. Also included in the project to build the tunnel was the construction of a roundabout between Insurgentes and Mixcoac avenues. With the new tunnel open, the city authorities hope that this will help reduce the chronic congestion that occurs daily at peak periods. Construction of the tunnel has taken two years to complete.

The tender process is ending for the tunnel project to construct a new tunnel in New Zealand. The route of the new tunnel runs through the Manawatu Gorge in Tararua District. When the tunnel is complete it will provide and improved link between the east and west at the southern end of New Zealand’s North Island.