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The INTERMAT 2012 equipment exhibition in Paris looks to be a strong event, with 90% of the space already sold for the show. Positive growth is forecast, with worldwide growth in the construction machinery and equipment sector. The forecasts for 2011 are more favourable than for 2010 and show that the sector is recovering its dynamism, according to the organisers. Growth is anticipated to reach some 11% this year. Emerging regions such as China, India and Latin America record sustained growth. More than 200

Roads in the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, are set for a major upgrade following £364.6 million (E404 million) of government funding. The Private Finance Initiative (PFI) funding will allow the Isle of Wight Council to carry out vital improvements and maintenance to local roads over 25 years including road surface improvement and maintenance; footway and cycleway improvement; maintenance on bridges and other structures; upgrades to traffic signals, signs, street nameplates and road marking

A debate is now underway regarding the fate of the existing Forth Road Bridge in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. A new Forth Replacement Bridge is being planned at a cost of some €2.64 billion and once this opens, it will carry heavy vehicles, which will not be allowed over the current bridge. Excessive loading and corrosion have taken their toll on the current bridge, although measures to halt the cable corrosion in this suspension bridge have now been taken.

Some 3,411km of highways in India’s Karnataka State will be upgraded over the next three years. The state authorities have given approval to the work, which is expected to cost up to US$420 million. Funding will be provided jointly by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The authorities have set a target for the construction of 20km/day of highway by 2013 and 2014. A Traffic and Transit Management Centre will be built at Hebbal by Ramky Infrastructure.

The FIA Foundation-coordinated eSafety Challenge, the annual event to promote life-saving eSafety technologies, has received a €1.6 million contribution from the European Commission to support its campaigning activities. The technologies are crucial for helping drivers make the right decisions in emergency situations and have the potential to save thousands of lives on the roads around the world.

The Chinese Government is building a 100m long bridge over the Trishuli River that will improve connections from Nepal-China. The structure will be located in Rasuwaghadi and the project has been planned after both countries agreed a deal for this second friendship bridge. The bridge is expected to cost US$ 1.42 million and its construction is being funded by the Chinese Government. The new link will connect the Rasuwaghadi Highway with China and is expected to help develop cross-country trade and transport

A new partnership has been established between RZDstroy and Alpine Bau. The two firms have set up the joint venture Alpine-RZDstroy business to tackle infrastructure projects in Sochi in Russia and will work on two tunnel projects, providing links for the upcoming Winter Olympics. The two firms are also planning to work on tunnel projects in Austria. Alpine-RZDstroy will build the Alptransit Brenner Baulos Al–Grundausrustung Tunnel in Austria’s Tirol region.

The UK Government is now considering the report on the proposed Mersey Gateway Bridge project in north-west England. The inspector’s report from last summer’s public inquiry investigates the plans to build a new bridge over the River Mersey between Runcorn and Widnes.

JCB Finance is celebrating its 40th Anniversary, tracing its origins back to the formation of JCB Credit in February 1970. In the first year of operation it achieved a turnover of £900,000 (€1 million) reaching the milestone of over £500 million (€563 million) in lending balances in December 2007. August 1998 saw a name change to JCB Finance Limited, the result of a desire from JCB to replicate the success of its UK finance arm under one common finance brand across the world.

It now looks as if construction work will start on the new bridge across Italy’s Messina Strait.