Road Structures

Major infrastructure plans for Gulf Region

October 2, 2013

Huge investment is being seen in the Gulf Region, with some US$109 billion being spent on infrastructure development according to figures from Ventures Middle East. The Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) nations are spending on improving roads and highways. Saudi Arabia is carrying out work to build roads and bridges (as well as rail) infrastructure worth $77 billion. Meanwhile the UAE is spending $58 billion on transport infrastructure and Qatar is investing $35 billion. In addition, Oman is spending close to

India continues toll road investment

October 2, 2013

The authorities in India are continuing the process of investment in toll road projects and general road construction. Plans call for some US$27 billion of road projects to be awarded in India by the end of October 2013. Included in the plans are four toll road projects, such as for construction of the Agra-Lucknow expressway, an eight lane highway that will be carried out by Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority. So far in 2013, only 479km of projects have been awarded by the National

Plans in hand to expand Nicaragua’s highways

October 2, 2013

Plans are now in hand to develop the highways of Nicaragua, a Central American country that has suffered from poor infrastructure investment in the past. The funding will come from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Some US$91.5 million has been approved by the IADB to finance highway projects in Nicaragua between 2014 and 2018. While this sum may not seem as substantial as the investment being seen in other countries around the world, it will make an enormous difference to this small Central Ameri

OHL working on new Mexican highway projects

October 2, 2013

Spanish firm OHL’s subsidiary, OHL Concesiones, will carry out a series of highway projects in Mexico. The company has a loan facility of US$404.6 million to carry out highway work in Mexico. At present OHL operates six highway concessions in Mexico. Three of these highways are open to traffic, with a further two under construction at present and work on the last due to commence shortly.

Funding found for Ugandan connections

September 30, 2013

EU funding will help with construction of Uganda’s Mbarara Bypass and upgrades to the Kampala Northern Bypass. The US$151 million in financing will help improve the country’s transportation. This move should help trade between Rwanda, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Burundi to the Mombasa seaport in Kenya.

New bridge project for Sri Lanka

September 30, 2013

A bridge costing some US$321 million will be built in Sri Lanka to span the Kelani River. This new link will reduce congestion at Baseline Road and in the area of Peliyagoda. The bridge is expected to take three years to construct and will measure 415m long. The project is being funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is also funding the design detail and feasibility studies. Meanwhile the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved credit $75 million for the construction of roads l

New Angolan bridge offers improved connectivity

September 30, 2013

Drivers in Angola are benefiting from a bridge that spans the Catumbela River, taking the place of an old structure that had proven not fit for purpose. The US$35 million cable stayed bridge is located in the highway between Benguela and Lobito, around 7km from Angola’s Atlantic coast and is one of a series of new infrastructure developments in the country. Angola suffered a long period of war that impacted on its people and infrastructure. The war resulted in severe damage to the country’s road system alon

Mozambique government plans US$400mn transborder road project

September 30, 2013

The Mozambique government will build a road to link between the country and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia. According to Cadmiel Muthemba, the Housing and Public Works Minister, works on the US$400 million project are due to commence from February 2014, with funds for the project provided by a loan extended by Exim Bank of China.

Out with Russian bureaucracy, in with foreign road investment

September 27, 2013

Transport journalist Eugene Gerden reports on why foreign companies are likely to become keener to invest in Russia’s huge array of major road construction projects The Russian government led by president Vladimir Putin is stepping-up its efforts to get greater foreign company investment in Russian road building by creating favourable trading conditions, including the elimination of bureaucratic and administrative barriers.

New Izhevsk Bridge project in Russia

September 25, 2013

A new bridge project is planned for Izhevsk in Russia. The bridge will span the Kama River and is expected to cost US$438 million to construct. The contractor VTB is one of the firms that will be involved in the construction of the crossing. In addition VTB is also looking to build a bridge spanning the Lena River as well as a section of the high speed highway that will link Russia’s major conurbations of Moscow and St Petersburg. This last contract looks likely to be awarded in the second quarter of 2014.