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Lithuania’s roads are the highest quality among the Baltic States, according to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report for 2013. The report ranked Lithuania's roads at 32nd place out of 144 countries, which was the same as in WEF's report for 2010-2011. Estonia’s roads ranked 61st in the world; and Latvian roads were positioned in 98th place, up slightly from 101st place previously. On a scale of 1-7, Lithuania scored 5.2 points in terms of road quality, followed by Estonia

The first engines built in the Chinese joint venture facility established by Cummins and LiuGong are now rolling off the production line. The factory, located in Liuzhou in Guangxi Province, is part of a 50:50 partnership between the two companies called Guangxi Cummins Engine Company. The facility is now making L9.3 engines to meet the demand of both LiuGong and other Chinese equipment manufacturers. The engine is available in multiple versions to meet various off-road emissions standards and has been deve

A series of four motorway projects in Colombia, known as the Autopistas de la Prosperidad, covering 844km and costing US$4.45 billion (COP 8tn), will be put out to tender from 11 April 2013. As well as the high profile road schemes, due to be awarded in October 2013, the government has also announced that a programme to boost national growth and productivity will be implemented. The Colombian financial budget for 2013 has been adjusted, signifying a $1 billion drop in foreign loans, while efforts will be ma

From 2 May 2013, it will be illegal for drivers in Norway to touch their mobile phones while behind the wheel of their vehicle for any other purpose other than accepting a call or hanging up. The tougher laws on the use of mobile phones while driving were outlined by Marit Arnstad, Norway's Transport Minister. It means that text messaging and use of Facebook or other applications will be prohibited for drivers.

The Malacca state government in Malaysia will spend US$196.75 million (MYR 612.30mn) to build and improve roads in the state. The budget will develop 73 road projects that will connect more places within the state.

A unit of China State Construction International Holdings (China State Construction) has signed a US$617.4 million (HKD 4.79bn) contract with the Highways Department of Hong Kong. The company will build a 150m long slip road tunnel beneath the Victoria Park Road and the northern area of Victoria Park. A 300m twin box tunnel section will also be built by China State Construction under the seabed of Causeway Bay Typhoon Shelter, as part of the 4.5km Central-Wan Chai Bypass development.

A report by the Texas A&M Transportation Institute on traffic congestion in the US has revealed key data on increasing traffic volumes. California-based transportation body the Reason Foundation has analysed the 2012 Urban Mobility Report, which was produced it in cooperation with traffic data from INRIX and shows that as the US economy slowly recovers, congestion is increasing gradually. According to the Reason Foundation’s analysis of the data, US traffic congestion has not yet reached of the 2005-07 peri

Research into the risks posed by the use of smartphones by drivers has revealed extremely worrying results. An international study into this field has shown that using cellphones to send texts while at the wheel can deliver significant risks for vehicle occupants as well as others. The study has shown that sending texts while at the wheel presents a similar safety risk to being 25% over the legal limit for alcohol in the bloodstream. In addition the study has shown that using hands-free telephone technology

In the Indian state of Bihar, investment is underway to improve the infrastructure links with neighbouring Nepal. Some US$109 million is being invested in the plan. The new road links will boost transport connections between Nepal and India and provide an economic boost in terms of trade between the two nations.