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Further delays to the planned Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link between Germany and Denmark appear likely because of objections to the project during the planning stages, Danish media reported. Government authorities in the German state of Schleswig-Holstein indicated that permission for the project, which focusses on a 17km immersed road and rail tunnel, will probably be given in 2017, and not next year as previously believed. German authorities have received about 3,100 objections to the project that has rise

The Indonesian government is looking to spend around US$385 million of a major loan from China to construct three toll roads in the islands of Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Java. The three toll roads are Cileunyi-Sumedang-Dawuan (Cisumdawu) of West Java, Balikpapan-Samarinda of East Kalimantan and Manado-Bitung of North Sulawesi. China recently announced it would lend Indonesia around $1.5 billion for infrastructure projects.

Mexico’s secretary of communications and transport, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza, has confirmed that the second level of Mexico City-to-Tlalpan interconnection road project could be completed by December. This stretch is part of the Mexico-Cuernavaca motorway improvement project, included in plans by the federal government and the capital's local authority to expand the access to Mexico City. The initiative is costing around US$1.68 billion and encompasses other motorways such as Mexico-Puebla, Mexico-Pachuca

The Louisiana Transportation Research Center (LTRC) has released a report summarising current US asphalt and concrete pavement smoothness requirements. The report, Best Practices for Achieving and Measuring Pavement Smoothness, A Synthesis of State-of-Practice, is important at a time when the US is undergoing a change in the way smoothness specifications are written. A growing number of states are moving away from profilograph-based smoothness specifications in favor of specifications based on a more widely

The authorities in Vietnam have set a massive budget for road development in Ho Chi Minh City. Some US$5.54 billion will be spent on improving the city’s road network. The projects included in the 2016-2020 road transport development plan include the construction of Belt Roads No3 and No4, the Ben Luc-Long Thanh Highway and tunnels at the Cong Hoa-Truong Chinh and An Suong intersections. The work also includes building flyovers at the Nguyen Huu Tho-Nguyen Van Linh Intersection, My Thuy Roundabout and Go Va

Ecuador is planning a series of four PPP infrastructure projects worth a total of US$1.5 billion. The four projects include the development of the port of Posorja, which will be financed by the private company involved. Two other projects are for the development of the port of Machala and the Rio 7 highway in Huaquillas, both of which are located in El Oro province. New regulations and laws are being established for the PPP plan to go ahead.

A key road project in Panama has been the source of some controversy. The upgrade of Domingo Diaz Avenue in Panama City has been criticised for its poor quality by some of the users of the route. Also known as Tocumen road, the project is for improvement work to 12.1km of road from the centre of Panama City to the East districts. The US$237 million work required involved widening the route to six lanes, as well as building three bridges for vehicle traffic and five pedestrian bridges. A consortium made up o

The Muntinlupa Cavite Expressway in the Philippines is now carrying tolled traffic. The route was open for a month toll free for its initial operations. Ayala Corporation has the concession for the route, while Egis supplied the traffic control equipment and has a subcontract to operate and maintain the technology on the expressway for seven years. The MCX expressway was previously called the Daang Hari – SLEX Link Road. This 4km long toll road links the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the Daang Hari road

Indonesia’s Trans Papua road is due to be completed in 2018, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. This 847km road is being constructed in stages and is intended to boost both trade and transport. The project is expected to cost up to US$867.52 million to complete.

The European Bitumen Association, Eurobitume, is carrying out a new membership drive. As part of the package this includes a special promotion and early bird offer for the Eurobitume event. The new membership structure is intended to enable more organisations associated with the bitumen industry in Europe to join its ranks and benefit from Eurobitume’s pool of expertise.