The tunnelling portion of India’s Chenani-Nashri tunnel project has now been completed. This 9.2km tunnel is of major importance for India as it will improve the transport connection between the Kashmir Valley and Jammu, reducing the distance by 30km. The tunnel is expected to open for traffic in May 2016 and will feature modern safety systems, setting a precedent for India. Advanced technology will be installed to handle ventilation, communications and traffic management, as well as safety systems such as
Work is now underway on a series of projects in Algeria, including the East West Highway and a key highway bypass. The 67km Khémis Miliana-Berrouaghia bypass is expected to cost around US$836 million, with work due for completion at the end of 2016. The project is being handled by an Algerian/Italian team.
Construction of the Russian stretch of the highway connecting Europe with China should be complete by 2018. This section of the project is costing close to US$22.6 billion. The international transit corridor from Europe to Western China is of key economic significance. The first sections of the Russian portion of the route form part of the new high-speed federal highway M-11 from Moscow to St Petersburg. About 40% of the highway will run through the Volga federal district. The 8,400km long international tra
Construction of the 392km highway running across Honduras is currently underway. The Canal Seco project will link the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the country. Discussions regarding the bypass around the city of San Pedro Sula as well as other municipalities in Valle de Sula are being held. The bypass will prevent traffic congestion. The bypass is costing an estimated US$120 million and a consortium has looked at six possible routes. Funding for the route has still to be sourced.
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala (India) had been witnessing rapid urbanisation. The government of Kerala implemented the Thiruvananthapuram City Road Improvement Project (TRCIP) to widen the existing 42km of existing road network to cater the needs of rapid urbanisation.
The latest report from the US-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers, AEM, makes for sobering reading. For the first six months of 2015, US exports of construction equipment dropped by 17% compared with the same period in 2014. The US manufacturers have been hit doubly, first by a tough international market and secondly by the high value of the US Dollar.
Contractor STRABAG is bullish and report strong economic performance for its latest financial results. The firm’s output volume after first nine months of 2015 hit nearly €10.3 billion, an increase of 6% over the same period for 2.14. Meanwhile there was strong growth in earnings with the firm’s EBITDA rising to €403.79 million, and EBIT to €115.81 million. The order backlog was down 11% to €13.8 billion however. For the whole of 2015, the outlook is healthy.
German construction equipment maker Mecalac will manufacture compact articulated wheel loaders to be sold under the Hitachi brand at its factory in Büdelsdorf, Germany. The loaders will comply with EU emissions Stage IIIB, according to a statement from Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe, based in the Netherlands.
In the UK, Terex Construction distributor Balgownie, based in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has been given a Royal Warrant for the supply of agricultural equipment to the Balmoral Estate, The Queen’s official residence in Scotland.
Yanmar Construction Equipment Europe officially launched its new range of compact wheel loaders, models V7 and V8, at the NordBau snow in Neumunster, Germany. The launch took place at the booth of Yanmar’a business partner company, HKL Baummaschinen.
