Road Structures

Mexico has major plans to improve transport network

December 13, 2013

Mexico’s transport and communications ministry (SCT) looks set to open tenders for 258 highway projects in 2014. Tenders for 13 projects covering work to repair, upgrade and widen over 2,000km of roads have already been revealed. Tenders being opened will also include building bridges and bypasses around congested urban areas. Key tenders include 48 in Chiapas, 35 projects in Oaxaca, 24 in San Luis Potosi and 11 in Guerrero and Veracruz. The road projects will account for some 20% of the overall infrastruct

European Commission launches €350mn TEN-T proposal calls

December 12, 2013

The European Commission has launched proposal calls worth €350 million for TEN-T (the Trans-European Transport Network) related projects. The proposal calls relate to all EU Member States and TEN-T projects for road, air, railways, maritime and inland waterways. Commission vice president Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, said, “With the 2007-2013 budgetary period coming to an end, we will make the best possible use of these TEN-T Calls for Proposals to make sure European transport infrastructure sup

Residents near Mersey Gateway Bridge to get up to 300 free journeys a year

December 12, 2013

Halton Borough Council has revealed that all eligible residents within the North West England borough will receive up to 300 free journeys per year when the new Mersey Gateway Bridge between Runcorn and Widnes and the current Silver Jubilee Bridge become tolled in 2017. The scheme, expected to revitalise an area hit hard by the ongoing tough European economic climate, was approved at a full Halton Borough Council meeting last night (11 December 2013).

Road tender being called for in Uzbekistan

December 12, 2013

The Uzbekistan Government is calling for bids on a key road project that will boost transport connectivity. The work calls for the rebuilding of the Pungan-to-Namangan highway. The plans call for the 75km highway to be widened from its present two lane configuration to a design featuring four lanes. The work is expected to take two years to complete and bids are being accepted for the project until the 20th January 2014. The widening of the highway is expected to help the economic development of the country

Massive growth expected for electric vehicle sales

December 12, 2013

A massive growth in sales is expected for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles in coming years, according to a forecast from specialist IDTechEx. According to the report, the total global gross value market for hybrid and pure electric vehicles will reach US$334 billion by 2020. At present the total global gross value market for hybrid and pure electric vehicles is worth some $69 billion. The report suggests that the market for these vehicles will primarily consist of large or very heavy duty vehicles, nei

Chile choses Chacao Chiloe crossing consortium

December 12, 2013

The Chilean authorities have awarded the project to build the Chacao crossing to a consortium comprising OAS, Hyundai, Systra and Aas-Jakobsen. The winning bid was for US$680.4 million. When the contracting consortium completes construction of Chile’s Chacao Channel crossing it will connect Chiloe Island to Chile’s mainland. The project has been halted and delayed a number of times over the years but this move will see the work going ahead at last, with construction expected to take some 79 months.

Tanzania awards road projects to Chinese firms

December 12, 2013

Chinese firms are to carry out three major road projects in Tanzania. The projects were awarded by the Tanzanian Government and are worth close to US$160 million in all. The companies are China Railway Seventh Group Company, Sichuan Road and Bridge (Group) Corporation and China Henan International Cooperation Company. The projects include the 65.5km road connecting Mangaka and Mtambaswala, as well as the 88km road from Mela to Bonga and the 99.35km road from Mayamaya to Mela. The work is due for completion

Delays have hit the Czech Blanka Tunnel

December 12, 2013

Further delays are adding to the sorry tale of woe surrounding the construction of the Blanka Tunnel project in the Czech Republic. The tunnel was supposed to improve connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in Czech capital Prague. However following a series of disagreements over the work being carried out as well as the spiralling cost, financing, legal problems and various technical issues, the construction of the tunnel has finally ground to a halt. Czech construction firm Metrostav has said that it w

Decision due on Romania’s €1.2bn Comarnic-Brasov highway contract

December 11, 2013

Two competing consortia are due to find out tomorrow (December 20 2013) which one has won the estimated €1.2 billion (US$1.65 billion) contract to build the Comarnic-Brasov highway section in Romania. The Vistrada Nord consortium formed of Vinci of France, Strabag of Austria and Aktor of Greece, and another consortium involving Impreglio and Salini of Italy are vying for the prized works. The Comarnic-Brasov highway section should be completed by the end of 2016, according to Narcis Neaga, general man

Panama’s turnkey contracts worth US$4.51bn signed since 2009

December 11, 2013

Turnkey contracts, including major transport projects, worth US$4.51 billion (EUR 3.28bn) have been signed under the current government administration in Panama since its election in 2009, it has been reported. The value of the turnkey contracts signed during President Ricardo Martinelli’s time as head of state includes US$1.09 billion allocated to five contracts to widen a 185km road section between Santiago de Veraguas and David to four lanes. The most expensive contract, worth US$ 1.64 billion, is for a