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Interest is strong in the project to build the Agua Negra Tunnel, which will connect Chile and Argentina. So far 10 consortia have been pre-selected to enter the bidding process for the project. However Ebitan, the joint Chilean/Agentinian commission with responsibility for the project has said it will not release the names of the consortia that have been pre-selected until November 2017 instead.

Senegal is setting an impressive target for its road construction projects. The country aims to have built 187km of new highways during 2018. The country’s current key highway development projects were started in 2012. Senegal’s whole programme of highway works has been worth US$2.12 billion in all. The country has also boosted its tertiary road network with 38 separate projects, adding a total of 1,061km of roads and seven bridges.

A new alignment is being considered for a major project in Russia’s second city, St Petersburg. A tunnel stretch running under the Neva River is being considered as an alternative route for the Eastern High Speed Diameter (EHSD) project. This tunnel would take the place of the fixed bridge, which has been criticised by some for its impact on the city’s skyline. However building the tunnel would increase the cost of the project by around US$52 million.

A new alignment is being considered for a major project in Russia’s second city, St Petersburg. A tunnel stretch running under the Neva River is being considered as an alternative route for the Eastern High Speed Diameter (EHSD) project. This tunnel would take the place of the fixed bridge, which has been criticised by some for its impact on the city’s skyline. However building the tunnel would increase the cost of the project by around US$52 million.

Plans are now being drawn up for a series of projects that will form part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Four road projects worth over US$3.32 billion have been added to the CPEC programme. The Chinese Government is now in agreement with the plans for the CPEC. One of the new roads being built will run from Naukundi, through Mashkel and to Panjgur. The road will join National highway N-40 with CPEC Route N-85, and the Zhob-Kuchlak route. This last link forms part of the Western Corridor CPE

Slovakia’s national motorway company NDS said it would tender the second stage of the 10.2km R4 Presov northern bypass during the first half of 2018. The project is estimated to be worth around €314 million.

In the Netherlands, the consortium of BBV24 is appealing the awarding of the Blankenburg Tunnel construction contract to another consortium, BAAK Blankenburg-Verbinding. BAAK Blankenburg-Verbinding – consisting of Dutch construction firm Ballast Nedam, Belgian dredging company Deme and Australian investment bank Macquarie – won the contract earlier this year.

Further delays are looming for construction of the western Strasbourg bypass, a controversial toll motorway project in north eastern France. The government is concerned about environmental issues after Arcos, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Vinci responsible for building the bypass, said it was going to carry out field surveys in 1.5 hectares of what many consider environmentally sensitive areas.

Plans are being up in Thailand’s capital Bangkok for a new expressway project in a bid to cut the city’s chronic congestion problem. This new route would provide a connection between the Western Outer Ring Road and Rama II Road. The project is being planned by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat). Financing for the project worth US$918.3 million will be provided by the Thailand Future Fund (TTF). The new route will include an elevated stretch from Rama II's traffic island towards the Western Outer Ri