Road Structures

Tunnel breakthrough for new Auckland link in New Zealand

October 8, 2014

Auckland’s Western Ring Route project update - Mary Bell writes. A number of integrated projects in Auckland, New Zealand, will improve the lot of road users and cyclists, and significantly alter the topography of the city’s motorway. On September 29th the tunnel boring machine digging the first of twin road tunnels beneath the city broke into daylight after 10 months underground. The new 2.4km-long Waterview tunnels will connect the city’s Northwestern and Southwestern motorways, each carrying three lane

Siberian spending on road infrastructure

October 7, 2014

A budget in excess of US$1.09 billion has been set for road infrastructure spending in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Region (Siberia). The funds will be used to widen, upgrade and repair road links over the next three years. In all the plans call for more than 1,000 km of roads and 62 bridges to be repaired during the 2015-2017 period.

New ocean-ocean highway link proposed for Nicaragua

October 7, 2014

A major highway project in Nicaragua is coming closer to fruition. The new link would cross the country, connecting its Caribbean and Pacific Ocean coasts. The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) has been called upon to approve a US$150 million loan at the end of October 2014 to part finance the scheme. Meanwhile funds worth $39 million have already been approved for the Rio Blanco-Mulukuku section of this road, which has been put out to tender. The $150 million CABEI loan would be put to

Six new highways for India’s Gujarat State

October 6, 2014

In India work is in hand for six new highways in Gujarat State. Approval for the projects has been given by the Indian Government. The new links will be two lane National Highways. The longest of the six links will be the 181km connection between Mahuva and Jetpur, with the next longest being the 165km Radhanpur-Charada stretch and followed by the 163km section between Bhimasar and Khavda. There will also be a 106km stretch between Ahwa and Pipaliya close to Maharashtra border, the Dhoraji-Jamnagar measurin

Two new road links will help boost Uganda’s economy

October 3, 2014

Uganda has unveiled plans for the construction of two road projects considered critical in enhancing the integration of the Eastern African economies and boosting the landlocked country's socio-economic performance - Shem Oirere writes The new Rukungiri–Kihihi–Ishasha/Kanungu and Bumbobi-Bubulo-Lwakhakha roads in Uganda feature a design influenced by the desire to harmonise modern road standards in East Africa. These new links will also cater for the current acute shortage of gravel for road construction

Peruvian highway has highest tunnel

October 2, 2014

A new tunnel connection is helping boost connectivity in Peru, improving access to remote areas Building the tunnel has been an important project as Peru has an imbalance in population distribution with 54.6% of its inhabitants concentrated in the areas along the Pacific Ocean, while only 32% of the population lives in the Andes highlands and 13.4% in the Amazon tropical jungles. The imbalance is acute given that the tropical jungle areas account for 60% of the country’s national territory. Economic deve

Guangxi Zhuang to spend big on 24 new expressways

October 2, 2014

China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region says it is spending US$49.76 billion (CNY 307.7 billion) on 24 new expressways in 2014. Once completed, the expressways will cover 3,467km. On 26 September 2014, construction started on a 177km Hechi-Baise expressway, while the 92km Hechi-Du'an expressway is already in use. The Hechi-Du'an expressway has a 100km/hour speed limit.

No Vienna-Prague link in Austria-Czech road agreement

October 2, 2014

A direct motorway between Austria’s capital, Vienna, and the Czech Republic capital, Prague, is not part of a new agreement on road connections between the two nations. The agreement formed by Austrian and Czech transport ministers Erwin Pröll and Antonin Prachar states that a four-lane A5 motorway will only go as far as Poysbrunn on the Austrian side, and will then continue with two lanes towards the Czech border. The overall road link is due to be completed in 2017.

Improved planning for drainage operations with Bentley

October 2, 2014

Bentley Systems is now offering upgraded versions of its SewerGEMS, SewerCAD, CivilStorm, and StormCAD V8i products.

Thailand goes big on road projects

October 2, 2014

Thailand’s government is planning to spend nearly US$25 billion in ten years from 2016 on overhauling Thailand’s road and rail transport infrastructure. A total of $24.74 billion (THB 800 billion) will be allocated by the Transport Ministry to the works which include developing inter-city highways, local roads and a comprehensive rail system. Work on the routes carried out by the Expressway Authority of Thailand will be included.