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Modest growth in transport construction is predicted in the US in 2017 by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). According to a report by ARTBA chief economist, Dr Alison Premo Black, total transportation construction and related market activity is expected to grow 1.3% in 2017, driven largely by increases in highway and bridge private construction activity supporting residential and commercial developments. In 2017, the market is expected to reach US$247.8 billion, up from $244

A loan from the China Exim Bank will help pay for a new road project in Kenya. The loan is being offered to Kenya’s Government and is worth US$227.2 million, around 46% of the sum required for the whole 472km road project. The project is being handled in three phases, with this loan being sufficient for the first 192km stretch that will connect Kibwezi with Kitui, running through Mutomo. This first section will be constructed by Chinese contractor Sinohydro. The second stretch of the project will measure 16

Surveying and design work for a new road link in Russia to connect the Black Sea with the Caucasian Mineral Waters will commence in 2017. The new toll road will run between Kislovodsk and Sochi and will halve the distance between the two, currently a distance of 600km. The project is expected to cost in the order of US$1 billion to carry out, with the contract having been organised partly by the Republic of Karachay-Cherkessia (North Caucasus), through which a section of the new route will run.

Work is now going ahead on the new highway stretch to connect Peka Peka with Otaki, which will form part of the planned Kapiti Expressway. This 13km stretch of highway is being built by contractor Fletcher Construction. The package of works was awarded by the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) and involves designing and building the new link. Construction work will start in 2017 and is expected to take until 2020.

New bridge crossings over the Amu Darya River will improve transport connections between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The bridges will open to traffic in early 2017 and will carry both motor vehicles and trains. The bridges have cost around US$123 million to construct. The new links have been needed for some time as existing crossings between the two countries have been insufficient and resulted in long delays. The river forms the border between the two countries for some distance.

Funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will help with the construction of a new tunnel as well as road links in Nepal. The US$168.56 million funding package comes in the shape of a loan to Nepal’s Government. This will be used to pay for the construction of a 2.5km tunnel that will link Nagdhunga with Naubise. The loan will also pay for the 7km of road on either side of the tunnel. The project is due for completion in 2022 and will fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Roa

The results of a European traffic study should surprise few UK drivers. According to the research by Inrix, the UK has Europe’s most congested roads. The study evaluated traffic densities in 123 major cities across Europe and revealed 20,375 areas in the UK where traffic congestion is a problem. By comparison Germany had less than half as many areas where traffic is a problem. This is in spite of the fact that Germany has a significantly higher population than the UK. According to the study, a spot where

Consultancy firm Atkins has won a major contract in the US to support highway operations and reduce congestion nationwide. The deal will see Atkins working with the US Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Office of Operations to reduce congestion and improve mobility across the country’s highway network. The US$132 million multiple-award contract is intended to help improve the safety and efficiency of the US transportation system by accelerating the deployment and integration of innovative technologies.

Parsons will head the team handling the feasibility study for the proposed I-69 bridge project in the US. Parsons was awarded the package jointly by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to lead the environmental review as well as to complete the preliminary design work for the I¬ 69 Ohio River Crossing project. The deal will see Parsons evaluate the feasibility and environmental impact of various routes for a new bridge across the Ohio River. Th