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A Mexican consortium comprised of Pinfra, Grupo Bursátil Mexicano and Aldesa Mexico has secured a concession to build, operate and maintain the Siglo XXI highway concession in Morelos state, according to the transport and communications ministry, SCT. Around US$211 million (2.76 billion pesos) will be invested in the 62km highway over the next two years. Five companies, including OHL Mexico, are reported to have bid for the concession, with the Pinfra consortium presenting one of the lowest bids. This is

Montreal’s Champlain Bridge will be replaced by 2018, according to the Canadian federal government. The government pledge is three years earlier than the original plans to replace the landmark structure. The new US$ 4.71 billion (CAD 5 billion) toll bridge is to be constructed through a public-private partnership and the procurement process is set to commence in spring 2014. Poul Ove Jensen has been selected by the government to design the replacement Champlain Bridge which, with its almost 160,000 daily

German municipalities may soon be allowed to issue special rules giving drivers of electric cars and other low-emission vehicles priority parking status. A draft proposal has been issued by the Bundesrat, the second chamber of the German parliament, to the first chamber, the Bundestag. Currently, only disabled people and local residents enjoy any kind of vehicle parking privileges. According to the proposal, local authorities could, for instance, free electric cars from parking fees and forbid parking of

Provisional resource consent allowing New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) to construct a four-lane, 13km expressway linking Otaki and Peka Peka in Wellington has been granted by an Independent Board of Inquiry. The project is estimated to cost around US$203.41 million (NZD 250 million) and will take around 24 months to construct from 2016. The final draft decision is to be released by the board during February 2014. The Otaki-Peka Peka expressway is one of eight road projects that will link to form the $2

The fact that India is, according to the Planning Commission of India, investing US$1 trillion in its infrastructure as part of the current 12-year plan (2012 to 2017), means that next year’s third edition of the bC India international trade fair for construction, building material, and mining machinery and construction vehicles will become an even more vital industry showcase event. The Bauma/Conexpo show takes place from December 15 to 18, 2014 in the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida near Delhi, with t

Work on a key stretch of Colombia’s Ruta del Sol highway project is behind schedule, with the route now unlikely to open to traffic before 2017. The 21.6km section of the highway facing these delays will link Villeta and Guaduas in Cundinamarca. A key challenge is technical as the US engineering firm Gall Zeidler Consultants has warned Colombia’s infrastructure agency (ANI) that this section of the route is geologically unstable. The proposed route could be at risk from slippage and will need to be stabilis

Belgium’s authorities have released data showing a worrying lack of basic vehicular safety awareness amongst the country’s parents. The data shows that the police recorded 83,736 instances of children being in vehicles without wearing a seatbelt or appropriate safety restraint. Meanwhile the police also reported 2,961 instances of children being in vehicles without seating suitable to their stature. The Belgian authorities have increased the cost of the fine imposed for offenders from just €50 to €165, in a

A loan worth US$400 million will help fund construction of a new highway in Kyrgyzstan. The Eximbank of China is providing the loan to the Kyrgyzstan Government of Kyrgyzstan for a 20 year period, with a grace period of 11 years at an interest rate of 2%. The project is for the construction of the new North - South route. The project includes a 1.7km tunnel, which is expected to cost some $150 million.