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Work on the Al Mafraq-Al Ghweifat highway project in the UAE is now well underway. This US$5.3 billion project is due for completion in first half of 2017. The Al Mafraq-Al Ghweifat highway is being built in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Work on the first phase of the project was completed in 2016. This is a substantial project that includes the construction of 16 new interchanges and upgrades to 246km of roads. The project also includes building new lanes on the Mafraq-Baynounah and Baraka-Ghuwaifat rou

In Paraguay the government is setting up plans for rebuilding Ruta 9, the Transchaco road. Negotiations have been held with regard to funding with the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). A loan worth US$160 million from the IADB will help fund the work. Funding for the project will also be provided by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).

The project to build Turkey’s new 1915 Cannakkale Bridge is gathering pace, with construction work expected to commence shortly. The tender for the project was won by a contracting consortium comprising construction companies coming from Turkey and South Korea. The Turkish contractors in the consortium are Yapi Merkezi and Limak while the South Korean companies are SK and Daelim and this project team was awarded the deal due to the short construction period required. The bridge will span the Dardanelles Str

A recent decision by the US Army Corps of Engineers could help speed the delivery of transportation projects. The decision was to exempt the Nationwide Permit (NWP) programme from an Executive Order freezing regulatory activity by federal agencies. And the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) believes that this will clear a path for the development of transportation projects, helping to boost the construction sector as a result. The NWP program, which was reauthorised by the Obama

CONEXPO Latin America is hosting a regional market update by John Price at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2017. Price is a renowned expert on Latin America and this session will run during the show’s International Market Roundtables programme. The session is designed to deliver the latest insights for doing business in the region. It will also give back to the area with support to Price’s designated charity, Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos (“Our Little Brothers and Sisters"). CONEXPO-CON/AGG International Market Roundtab

The Canadian province of British Columbia has given environmental approval for a 10-lane US$2.8 billion bridge to replace the ageing George Massey Tunnel near Vancouver. However, approval for the 3km cable stay bridge over the Fraser River comes with 33 conditions, according to Canadian media. Construction of the toll bridge will also mean replacing the interchanges of Westminster Highway, Steveston Highway and Highway 17A.

South Korea has announced a programme of works that will see the country’s national road network being extended by over 900km. The budget of US$6.41 billion for the work has been set by the South Korean Government. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has drawn up the plans for the work which will include upgrades and extensions to 73 stretches of road in all. During the first six months of 2017 around 60% of the budget should be used for the necessary road construction activity. One of the ma

A highway construction project in the Czech Republic is attracting strong interest, with 10 bids having been received during the tender process. The project is being managed by the state-owned road management firm RSD and is worth €255.21 million. The work involves building a 10 km stretch of the D1 connecting Prerov with Rikovice and this will be the largest road tender in the Czech Republic during 2017. According to RSD, the bids have largely come from consortia that combine large foreign contractors with

Kanoo Machinery (Kanoo), Manitowoc’s long-standing distribution partner in the Middle East, has been awarded the Manitowoc Cranes Elite Dealer status for its Saudi Arabian operations. The firm’s facility in Saudi Arabia is one of only four dealerships to receive this designation in the Middle East. The Elite Dealer award recognises dealers that excel in their parts and services standards, raising those standards at an international level. Many factors contributed to Kanoo winning the award, in particula