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New developments will broaden the asphalt paving market - Mike Woof reports. A new approach to materials could help address rising bitumen costs. Increased use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) in road construction can cut a major chunk from paving costs, with an array of technologies now available. In the US, RAP is one of the most widely recycled materials and current techniques allow roads built with this material to perform well for all traffic conditions. Some European countries are also making widesp

New lane control solutions from major roadmarking companies have been installed on highways across the world over recent months. Guy Woodford reports on some of them. Clearview Traffic Group (CTG) recently clocked up the installation of over 70,000 Astucia active flush and surface mounted road studs in the UK. CTG has been involved in numerous road stud installation projects on motorways and other road types in the UK and many other countries worldwide. Its UK installations include over 4,500 Astucia road s

More efficient construction operations should be the benefit of the new technology from Leica Geosystems. The firm is introducing its latest Leica iCON telematics package, which is said to offer increased efficiency for machine control operations on site and remote machinery fleet management. The Leica iCON telematics package is a web-based suite of tools that allows contractors to increase the efficiency of machine control operations on site and manage machinery fleets. This is a key component in iCONnect,

Several manufacturers are offering improved earthmoving machines, with more to come - Mike Woof reports. One of the most notable developments comes from Caterpillar, with the unveiling of a hybrid excavator in the shape of its 336E H model. The machine is having its public launch at the bauma exhibition in Spring 2013 and will start rolling out of the factory in March 2013, while customers will be able to place orders from February 2013. Unlike other hybrid excavators on the market at present, the Cat 336E

International environmental pressure groups claim a vital road in Kenya goes through parkland as Shem Oirere reports. Kenya’s Nairobi Southern Bypass, a 28.6km stretch has become the second road project in East Africa to run into problems. Designed to the Class A International Trunk Road Standard, the route has been targeted by international environmental pressure groups following Tanzania’s Serengeti Highway, which was derailed last year. The US$208 million bypass will link Mombasa Road, near Ole Sereni Ho

David Williams is director of Kijlstra UK, one of the leading European manufacturers and suppliers of drainage solutions. The Group has a turnover in excess of €150 million and sites in numerous locations throughout Western Europe. Ever since Sir John Egan kick-started the Rethinking Construction movement more than a decade ago, designers, contractors and suppliers have been trying to find ways of improving site safety, cutting waste and generally improving efficiency in the construction process. “There has

Dutch-style cycle safety for other European nations – Mike Woof writes A recent event held in London during October was aimed at improving safety for vulnerable road users. Called Love London go Dutch, the event was intended to highlight some of the experience from Holland in reducing risk rates for vulnerable road users such as cyclists. Similar events were held in other UK cities, while other major European cities such as Paris that are seeing an increase in cycling also have a lot to learn from Dutch exp

That roads are essential for Europe’s prosperity is something no policymaker in their right mind would deny Roads have a major impact on our daily lives, as it is one of the primary means of access to employment, services, and social activities. Moreover, by linking people and other modes of transport, they are a sine qua non for achieving greater cohesion within Europe. In light of this, it is somehow hard to believe how long it has taken policymakers to wake up to an inconvenient truth. This is that chr

IRF will be joining with Moroccan Motorways (Autoroutes du Maroc) and the Moroccan Road Association to a host a major Regional Conference focusing on the North Africa & the Mediterranean region (MENA). The event, which benefits from support from the World Bank, the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Transport and ITS Arab, offers industry leaders a particularly prominent and conducive platform for stimulating business and connections in a fast developing region, rich in opportunities for the provision of su

Patrizia Bellucci from the Research and New Technologies Division of ANAS, in Rome introduces a sustainable approach to road noise abatement Traffic noise has been recognised by the World Health Organization as a major factor contributing to environmental pollution. Besides causing annoyance, it has significant negative health impacts on populations living close to road infrastructure. In 2002, to help counter this state of affairs, the European Parliament and Council adopted Directive 2002/49/EC relating t