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Denmark’s Minister of Transport Ole Birk Olesen has turned the sod to officially start construction of the new 4km road and rail Storstrøm Bridge. The €549 million bridge is scheduled to open for road traffic in 2022 and for rail traffic in 2023. The project budget includes the cost for demolition of the existing bridge that opened in 1937. The 24m-wide single-support cable-stayed structure will connect the islands of Zealand to Falster and touch down on the smaller Masnedø Island.

Australia’s Victoria state government has moved to ensure smaller contractors get a share of the US$12 billion worth of Melbourne city’s North East Link contracts. According to a report in the Australian Financial Review, Victoria state treasurer Tim Pallas said that consortiums bidding for North East Link could not include more than one of the top three local contractors. This is to encourage more international companies and smaller Australian contractors to tender for the proposed 26km project.

A loan facility worth US$175 million will help pay for upgrade works to 350 bridges in India’s Madhya Pradesh State.

A new expressway project is being proposed in Thailand. The project for a new expressway in Phuket is likely to cost US$425.26 million to construct. The project is being proposed under the PPP model. The aim is to an offer an improved link between tambon Kathu and Patong beach in the Phuket area. The existing Highway 4029 has a poor record for road safety. The project will include building an elevated section as well as a tunnel section.

Discussions are being held in Myanmar with regard to the country’s Elevated Expressway Project. The Myanmar Government has been in talks with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The project is expected to cost US$400 million, with work due to commence in 2019 and likely to require 24-36 months to complete. Building the 24km expressway will improve transport between the north and south of Yangon City. The project will be carried out under the PPP model, with IFC advising on the work.

The contract has been awarded for the construction of a bridge spanning South Africa’s Msikaba Gorge. The project is expected to cost US$110.5 million and the package of works was awarded by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL). A Portuguese and South African joint venture partnership, Concor Mota-Engil, will carry out the work, which will commence in February 2019 and is expected to take 33 months to complete. The bridge will feature a main span of some 580m, making it the longest cable-stayed

The first section of Russia’s new A181 Scandinavia highway is due to open to traffic in October 2018. However, this is 12 months later than was originally planned as the project has been subject to a number of unforeseen issues. The new link will connect St Petersburg with Ogonki and the work has been carried out by contractor VAD, costing US$148.3 million.

The first section of Russia’s new A181 Scandinavia highway is due to open to traffic in October 2018. However, this is 12 months later than was originally planned as the project has been subject to a number of unforeseen issues. The new link will connect St Petersburg with Ogonki and the work has been carried out by contractor VAD, costing US$148.3 million.