News

The British government’s decision to cut back hard on its highways maintenance spending plans will severely degrade the quality of local roads across the UK and risk driving up the long-term costs for the country’s hard-pressed local authorities, the National Audit Office has warned in a new report out this month entitled “Funding for local transport.” The NAO has also told the UK’s ministers that they must be much clearer about who they think should take forward the decision-making process once the devolut

The Spanish construction company Ferrovial has completed its US $ 1.40 billion (€1.08bn) works on the SH-130 motorway in Texas (US). The company is preparing a bid for further work in the US state by competing for the contract to build the IH-35 in Dallas while, at the same time, completing further works on two other key Texas road projects: the NTE (North Tarrant Express) Highway; and the Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway (Interstate 635).

IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) director Neil Greig said “much more” needed to be done to sustain an encouraging drop in the latest published quarterly road casualty statistics for the UK. The latest Department for Transport figures revealed 400 people were killed in road accidents in Britain between April-June 2012 – down 18% than the 487 killed over the same period of 2011. The total number of casualties was 47,880 between April-June 2012, a fall of 7% on the 51,580 in Q2 2011.

Concern has been expressed over recidivist motorists in Europe who continue to flout seatbelt laws, despite strong evidence that they risk serious injury or death. According to recent police safety data, results from a recent pan-European seatbelt control operation show that nearly 100,000 drivers and passengers were detected not wearing seatbelts. A total of 25 countries took part in the operation, which was co-ordinated by the European Traffic Police Network (TISPOL). Of the final total of 97,489 detectio

Bidding is strong for work on a key section of the Moscow to St Petersburg highway. Several offers have been made for the project, which will connect the Businovskaya and MKAD junction to Festivalnaya Street, and a junction of Festivalnaya Street and MKAD. Both Mostotrest and ARKS are tendering for the work. The tender results will be announced on 20th November 2012. The authorities have stated that the contract price should not exceed US$946 million.

The authorities in Indonesia have set out extensive plans to source funding for new tolled highways. In all seven highway projects have been identified as crucial to expanding the network and improving connectivity for the Indonesian islands of Sulawesi, Java and Sumatra. Some US$25 billion in loans from overseas has been sourced by the Public Works Ministry of Indonesia.

The authorities in Russia’s Astrakhan Region intend to boost road investment in 2013. Over US$289 million is being budgeted for road repair and construction during 2013. This represents a three-fold increase over the sum spend on road repair and construction in the Astrakhan Region during 2012. The priority project is for construction of the new Astrakhan-Makhachkala road, which is financed by Russia’s Federal budget.

Preparation work is underway in Vietnamese city Da Nang for the planned Da Nang-Quang Ngai Expressway. The 140km road will link the provinces of Quang Ngai and Quang Nam and site clearance work worth around US$48 million in compensation is being carried out at present. Construction of the expressway itself will commence in mid-2013 and the new road will cut journey times from three hours along the existing route to just two hours.

Slovakia is benefiting from strong European investment in its transport infrastructure. For the 12 month period up until 30th September 2012, the country benefited from the use of EU funds worth €920.5 million. This amount was used for projects within the Operational Programme Transport (OPD) and came from the overall allocated sum of €3.12 billion. Co-financing from the state budget stood at €211.5 million and represented 33.75% of the overall sum of €626.6 million. The finances used from the EU Cohesion F

The upcoming bauma China exhibition planned in Shanghai 2012 from the 27th-30th November is already breaking previous records for this event. The organisers of the show have booked over 2,600 exhibitors, coming from 39 countries. This is an increase of close to 40% from the previous bauma China. The International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Construction Vehicles and Equipment is taking place in the purpose-built Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). In additi

A series of road improvements are planned for Panama’s capital Colon that are intended to boost connectivity and cut congestion. The US$163.2 million package of works has been approved by Panama's National Economic Council (CENA). Of the sum budgeted, $127 million will be for the construction work while $35 million will be required for property expropriations. The road works form part of a contract the Panama Government is signing with Concesionaria Madden-Colon.

In Russia’s Krasnodar Region the authorities intend to spend US$909.3 million on road construction and repairs during the 2013-2015 period. The main focus of this investment will be rebuilding of the M4 Don Highway. In addition, a series of approach roads into Krasnodar will be rebuilt and new road junctions constructed.

Volvo CE reports a drop in machine sales of 9% in the third quarter as market demand drops. The company says that it is facing a weakening total market, which was down 11% in the year to August. This has also been combined with increased price competition and has put pressure on its third quarter sales and earnings. The company says it has reacted quickly to a slowing global market by slowing the rate of production in its factories and reducing the number of machines held in stock at its dealerships. This

The second annual INTERMAT Middle East exhibition has now established the show as a key event for professionals in construction and infrastructure in the region. INTERMAT Middle East is the region’s biggest dedicated exhibition for construction machinery, equipment and materials. Strong support for the event came from the Ministry of Public Works of UAE (MoPW), the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA) for Abu Dhabi, major exhibitors and key decision makers including developers, contractors and distributors

The construction equipment market has been hit hard in Europe and further afield, with economic uncertainty slowing orders. But there is light on the horizon. A range of key industry speakers made presentations at the recent Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE) congress in Berlin, outlining prospects for the next few years in Europe as well as around the world.