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Major road development is underway in Azerbaijan at present, with network expansion needed to help capitalise on the country’s strong extraction industry. The country’s Ministry of Transport has said that 225km of roads have been built in the first half of 2012. This construction work has required investments of close to US$901 million.

The US Government is looking to ensure that unused funding for infrastructure projects will be used efficiently. Those projects that have stalled due to other issues may see existing funding reassigned to other infrastructure projects that are further ahead. The US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is making over US$470 million earmarked for projects

Strabag chief executive, Hans Peter Haselsteiner, has spoken of the need for the Group to respond to tougher future trading conditions after its half year 2012 earnings fell, as expected, substantially from 2011 levels. New figures published by the Austrian construction giants revealed that its EBITDA was € 16.14 million between

Manitou Group’s (MG) operating profit rose by 22% to €31 million in the first half of 2012, compared to €25 million over the same period of 2011. The France-headquartered Group also saw its 2012 first half year revenue increase by 20% to €672 million, having recorded €562 million revenue in the first six months of the previous year. Meanwhile, MG net income was up 40% to €21 million in the first half of 2012, from €15 million over the same period of 2011.

Concern is being expressed at the high rate of road accidents in Indonesia. Official figures from the Police Department, there were 3,927 road accidents between 11th August and 21st August 2012. There were 686 reported deaths in these accidents over the time period.

SMEC is now working on construction supervision and contract administration for the Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project (stage Two) in India. The project is located in Karnataka State and the contract was awarded to SMEC earlier by the local authorities.

Critics of Europe’s push towards biofuels are pointing out that the strategy is boosting the cost of foodstuffs around the world. The combination of drought and high grain prices are fuelling a growing clamour within Europe that is criticising the policy on boosting biofuel use.