Road Structures

A major new highway link in Chile is now open to traffic. Sacyr Concesiones opened the 103.4km highway that connects the cities of Concepción and Cabrero. The link is located in Chile’s Bio Bío Region and cost US$360 million to develop, while it is expected to generate some $1.027 billion throughout the length of the concession period. Work to build the highway started in June 2012 and the link is intended to improve connectivity between Concepción and Cholguán in the Bio Bio Region, and will also join w

Construction of a new 10 lane highway is due to start shortly in Qatar and the project is expected to cost in the region of US$2.1 billion to complete. The new Al Khor Expressway project looks set to be built by a Turkish contractor Tefken Holding, following the completion of the tender process. The 34km highway will feature eight intersections, as well as a number of viaducts, overpasses and underpasses. The project also includes the construction of separated facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. The hi

Plans are in hand for road widening work and surfacing upgrades for a key route crossing Zimbabwe. The highway upgrade is being carried out by a joint venture partnership between Chinese firm China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) and Austrian Company Geiger International. This follows agreements being reached between the joint venture partners and the Zimbabwe Government. The work is needed as the existing road links along the route are unable to cope with that current traffic volumes that include a high

All six consortia that submitted documents in May to design and build a fourth bridge over the Panama Canal have pre-qualified, according to media reports. The companies officially vying for the estimated US$1 billion contract are: • Dragados • Consorcio CCB: Constructora Norberto Odebrecht, Odebrecht Engenharia e Construcao International • Consorcio Hyundai, Sacyr JV • Consorcio Astaldi – Daelim • Consorcio Panamá Cuarto Puente: China Communications Contruction Company, China Harbour Engi

A major new highway project connecting the UK’s university cities of Oxford and Cambridge has been proposed. A new study by the Department for Transport (DfT) has set out the case to improve connections between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge. The Oxford to Cambridge expressway strategic study is one of a number of studies aimed at addressing some of the biggest challenges facing the road network in the UK. The study has been carried out by WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, CH2M and Steer Davies Gleave.

Contracts are now being awarded for a major new expressway project in Malaysia. The contracts relate to the project to construct the Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE). Malaysian firm Gabungan AQRS is now handling a US$126.4 million subcontract for the project that involves building a bridge section. This package of works should take two years to complete with the work scheduled to finish by the end of 2018.

The tender process for a major new highway project in Argentina is expected to commence in 2017. The new highway will connect Santa Fe with San Justo and will measure 82km in length. The project is expected to cost in the region of US$166 million to construct, with funding being supplied by the Inter-American Development Bank. The schedule for the project has not been finalised and will not be clarified until the tender is awarded but construction work could commence during 2018.

The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) has put forward five alternate route options for a new highway connecting the cities of Manchester and Sheffield. The project looks likely to include a major tunnel section measuring as much as 20-30km in length that would run under the Peak District. The aim of the project would be to cut journey times between the two cities as the existing transport routes are prone to peak period congestion and delays at present. The route would connect either the M60 or M67 motorw