Road Structures

The Canadian city of Montreal has put road and waterworks repairs at the heart of its capital works programme for 2014-2016. The programme, covering almost US$3.62 billion (CAD 3.8 billion) in infrastructure expenditure priorities, is lower by $287.61 million (CAD 300 million) compared to the one presented in 2012. It is due, if approved, for implementation from mid-September 2013 Nearly 75% of the capital works programme is allotted for maintenance and repairs, while new developments account for the

The Chinese authorities have announced plans to construct the world’s longest undersea tunnel. Measuring a colossal 123km long, the tunnel route runs under the Bohai Sea and is intended to connect Dalian in Liaoning Province with Yantai in Shandong Province. The tunnel was first proposed in the mid-1990s when it was expected to cost in the region of US$10.3 billion to build but the project was shelved due to the enormous construction challenges it posed. However tunnelling technology has moved on and the Ch

The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) has plans to expand the country’s road network. In all 42 road construction projects will be completed during the present financial year while a further 45 new road projects will be started. The new roads will extend for a total of 20,700km. Key roads being built will connect Woliso and Ambo, Goro and Lebu and Awash and Debreberhan via Dulecha and Ankober. The programme of works is expected to cost US$1.53 billion.

Plans are in hand for a new bridge to span the Lena River near Yakutsk in Russia. The project is expected to cost US$1.95 billion. The bridge will take six years to design and construct, with the project being handled under the PPP model. Private investors will maintain the bridge over an eight year period, with payments being made by the Russian State. A number of leading companies have expressed interest in the project so far including Transstroy, Mostovik, Most, Mostotrest, and Sibmost.

Bidding is strong for a road tunnel project in Bosnia Herzogovina. The expected cost of the 902m long tunnel has not so far been revealed, however the project is being financed jointly by the European Investment Bank (EIB) as well as Bosnia’s Federal Government. The tender for the project was announced by Bosnian roads company, Cesta Federacije BiH. Bids have been received from Croatian contractors Skladgradnja, Viadukt and Hidroelektra Niskogradnja.

Rosavtodor has held a roadshow for the construction and operation of a highway bridge over the Lena River near Yakutsk in eastern Russia. A public-private partnership project, a starting price for the bridge’s construction has been set at US$1.95 billion (RUB 64 billion). Investments will have at least 5% of the project funds. The bridge is to be engineered and built in six years. Private investors will maintain the bridge for eight years, receiving regular payments from the state amounting to $485.68 milli

A 4.9km long bridge will be constructed close to Ukraine’s capital Kiev.

The authorities in Oman have plans for a major programme of infrastructure investments. Tenders for a series of projects worth close to US$360 million have now been awarded. The projects include construction of the South Al Batinah Expressway. This is package 5 of the expressway project and construction of this section will cost £344.4 million.

The Malaysian authorities have now awarded the contract to build the huge Penang-Butterworth tunnel project. The new link will cost in the region of US$1.92 billion to construct and the work includes building three bypass connections as well as the undersea tunnel. The project will be handled by a consortium, Zenith BUCG while Astral Supreme Construction is assisting with the feasibility study for the work. The Penang-Butterworth sea tunnel will be 6.5km long. The project also includes a 4.2km link from Gur