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International interest is strong in tenders opening in Colombia for the construction and management of 1,146km worth of highways. These form part of a package for 10 projects known as Autopistas para la Prosperidad, worth some US$4.75 billion in all. OHL has expressed an interest in the Autopista al Mar 2 and Autopista al Rio Magdalena 1 highway projects, which have been valued at around $1.9 billion.

Work has started on a new facility for BOMAG Americas in South Carolina. The groundbreaking ceremony was held in Ridgeway, at the future site of the firm’s new North American headquarters. The new facility will house spare parts warehousing and a machine assembly area along with office space. It is due for completion in October 2014, when BOMAG will begin the move from its current headquarters in Illinois.

This video clip from Australia shows how up close how an aged overpass can be removed quickly and efficiently, while minimising the disturbance to surrounding traffic or neighbouring properties.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is set to transfer the US$ 150 million second tranche of a loan for construction of Masally-Shorsulu highway in Azerbaijan. The first $250 million ADB loan tranche has already been sent, with the overall project cost set to reach $625 million. Azerbaijan will get a $100 million third ADB loan tranche in 2016, taking the Bank’s total loan investment in the new highway to $500 million.

The authorities in Paraguay have agreed a funding package with the Latin American Development Bank (CAF) for a series of infrastructure projects in the country. The funding comes in the shape of a US$222 million loan and this is the first time that the CAF has approved funding of this size for the country. This will provide partial funding for the Programme for the Improvement of Integration Corridors and Road Reconstruction.

Plans are underway in La Réunion for the construction of a new coastal road worth US$1.63 billion. The project has been contested by one failed bidder but is going ahead, despite opposition from the National Council for the Protection of Nature (CNPN).

A series of major project tenders are opening in Brazil. The Brazilian Government has announced five new road tenders to be launched in 2014. The highway sections run for a total distance of some 2,625km. This programme of works will lengthen the country’s highway network by some 2,282km, with the work costing an impressive US$7.39 billion in all.

Volvo Construction Equipment is posting optimistic financial results that show an increase in deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2013. The firm reports deliveries climbing by 9% as global markets show signs of improvement. A slowly recovering global market helped Volvo Construction Equipment round off 2013 with sales up 3% in the fourth quarter and improved market share, especially in compact equipment.

Positive news comes from equipment auction specialists Ritchie Bros and IronPlanet. Ritchie Bros reports strong performance for its online construction machinery marketplace, EquipmentOne, in the first year since the service was set up. The service was initially launched in early 2013 and had a full commercial launch in April. The Marketplace already has hundreds of thousands of qualified members around the world. Sellers can make their own listings or work with Ritchie Bros to create listings including equ