Road Structures

In Serbia plans are moving ahead with work on the Zezeljev Bridge. The structure will provide a new crossing over the Danube River for the city of Novi Sad. The new bridge replaces an old structure carrying both rail and road links that was destroyed by bombing in 1999. Construction of the new bridge forms part of an EU strategy for the Danube Region. The current cost of the new bridge has not been disclosed although an estimate in 2010 pegged the pricetag at some €60million. The 470m long by 25m wide struc

In Mexico work is now underway on the La Marquesa-Toluca highway. The project is costing some US$269.5 million in all. The construction is due for completion in December 2015. The work is being carried out jointly on the first stretch of the highway by Spanish contractor OHL working in partnership with local company La Peninsular.

Research carried out by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) reveals cause for concern with an expected increase in the annual fatality rate. The number of road crash deaths in the country currently stands at an average of 18 people/day. But that rate is expected to increase to an average of 29/day according to the research. In 2020, the annual death toll on the country’s road network is expected to hit 10,716 compared with the 6,915 deaths/year recorded in recent years. Of the total number of fat

The opening of the Blanka Tunnel in the Czech Republic will be further delayed. The tunnel will now open for traffic in April 2015 instead of October 2014, which was the most recent opening date for the link. This delay has been attributed to issues with the technology being installed in the link, although the construction work being carried out by Metrostav is now close to completion. In all, the project is costing some €1.31 billion. When the tunnel is complete it will help lower congestion levels in Czec

Chile’s Ministry of Public Works is investigating its options with regard to an alternative road to Route 68. The road connects capital Santiago with the country's fifth region. The new road is one of several projects listed in the road concessions packages set out by the Ministry of Public Works for 2020. An upgrade to this road link is required as Route 68 suffers heavy congestion at peak periods and particularly over long weekends or holidays. The project could cost in the region of US$200 million in all

Bolivia has a major programme of highway expansion and improvements underway at present in a plan designed to improve the country’s transport links. The programme includes 16 double-lane highways being built, costing some US$1.85 billion in all. The work is being managed by the state-run road administration company ABC. The roads will improve connections to La Paz, Oruro, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. The road between La Paz and Oruro is 80% finished. The other projects will be finished between 2015 and 2018.

Improvements are needed to key roads in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. A report from the National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) says that there is a funding backlog for road works. According to the MRNA report some US$1.08 billion (A$1.15 billion) is needed to bring the NSW North Coast council roads to a satisfactory condition. The North Coast councils in need of the money include Greater Taree, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour City, Port Macquarie Hastings and Byron Shire. A number of options ar

Financing has been found for a major highway upgrade project for Pakistan. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is lending US$197 million to Pakistan’s National Highway Development Project for Balochistan. The loan will be used to upgrade the Zhob-Mughal Kot and Qila Saifullah Waghum highways. At present these highways feature just two lanes, but the improvement works will see them being widened and improved, so as to increase capacity and also upgrade safety. The wider aim of the project is to help generate ec

Plans are in hand in East Africa for a new 1,600km highway that will boost trade and transport in the region. The new road will run from the Kenyan port of Mombasa to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The highway will be of particular importance to landlocked Rwanda as it will provide an important new route for trade and transport. The Transport ministries of Kenya and Rwanda will work together on the project, which will also involve the transport ministry in Uganda. The six lane highway will feature sophistic

Work is now underway on Algeria’s new 62km highway in Batna. The project was opened officially by the Algerian president. The US$567 million project will connect with Algeria’s key East-West highway and forms part of the president's 2005-2025 programme of works. The first section of the new highway will be split into two lots, linking the provinces of Batna, Khenchela and Oum El Bouaghi.