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Colombia is benefiting from heavy investment in infrastructure that is helping boost the country’s economy. At the same time, tough policies have also reduced crime considerably and helped stabilise economic development. This process of economic growth and overall stabilisation looks set to continue as the Colombian Government has recently unveiled its plans for highway construction over the next 10 years. This infrastructure programme is also tipped to raise demand for surety products owing to government c

A demolition contractor has carried out an explosive demolition on an overpass in Brazilian city, Rio de Janeiro. The demolition work is being carried out as part of the upgrades to the city’s port district in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games. Around 1tonne of explosives were used to place charges at key points within the structure of the Perimetral overpass. The demolition work was successful and the structure was brought down safely without incident.

Atlas Copco has launched the most powerful rock drill currently on the market. The COP 4038 is a 40kW machine operating at a frequency of 140Hz compared with the 117Hz of the COP 3038. Designed for tunnelling and drifting in the hole at 43–64mm, the COP 4038 is an extremely advanced unit. High frequency technology is said by Atlas Copco to be utilised so that instead of simply striking the drill steel harder, the piston strikes at a higher frequency, resulting in faster penetration without increased stress

The Iranian authorities have announced plans to restart work on a coastal highway project. The project is expected to cost some US$83 million, with the Iranian Government shouldering $43 million of the investment required. When it is complete, the highway will connect the cities of Mashhad and Astara via Bojnord, Gorgan, Dari and Rash. Work on the Bojnord-Gorgan stretch is expected to complete and the highway to be open for traffic in the second quarter of 2016

The Government in Aruba in the Caribbean is giving its approval for its second PPP transport infrastructure project, the Watty Vos Boulevard. The start of the tender process for the project is planned for the first quarter of 2014. PwC is the transaction advisor for the Contracting Authority, while the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and local legal firm Sjiem Fat & Co are also part of the team. The project will cost some US$120 million and involves the construction of a new arterial road 2x2 around Oranje

Odebrecht has been awarded a concession for Brazil’s important BR-163 federal highway route. The 851km section of highway runs through Mato Grosso state and the deal is worth some US$2 billion, according to a report by Business News Americas. As part of its contract, Odebrecht will have to widen a 454km stretch of the route within five years and is also required to build nine new toll booths.