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Work is now due to commence on the Third Incheon Bridge in South Korea in 2020. The new bridge will measure 4.7km and will have three lanes in either direction, as well as provision for pedestrians and cyclists. Connecting Incheon with the island of Youngjong, where the city’s main airport is located, the bridge is due for completion in 2025. Construction of the link has been delayed due to legal disputes with the operators of the first two bridges.

A new road project in Costa Rica is being evaluated at present. The plans call for an upgrade of Route 32, providing an improved 46km link between Virilla River and Sucio River areas. The project would require the driving a new tunnel in parallel with the existing Zurqui Tunnel, located on the southern side of the Braulio Carillo National Park. The project is expected to cost US$643 million and the route is likely to be offered to tender under a 30 year tolled concession package. A full feasibility study ha

India’s Tamil Nadu State is working on a programme to redevelop 1,538km of rural roads. The plan has been set out by the Tamil Nadu State Government. Financing for the work will be provided by the National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD). The work is being planned by Rural Roads unit of the state’s Highways Department. A budget of US$112.5 million has been set for the upgrade work, which should be completed within six months.

Working is commencing on a key road project in Argentina’s Buenos Aires Province. The road will connect Canuelas, on the south western outskirts of capital Buenos Aires, with the town of Azul. The improved route will boost transport between Buenos Aires and Azul, which lies to the south west of the capital, and will also pass through the towns of Las Flores and Cachari. The project will be carried out under the PPP model and is expected to cost US$1.77 billion in all. The first stage of the project will be

The Canadian province of British Columbia has shortlisted three consortia for its Highway 91/17 upgrade project in Delta, next to Vancouver on the Pacific coast. Kiewit Construction Services will work as design-build contractor while WSP Canada will act as the design firm. Pacific Gateway Constructors and Ledcor CMI will work as lead design-builder along with Aecon Infrastructure Management and Bel Contracting as design builders and McElhanney Engineering Services as the designer. Finally, Gateway Legacy

Vulnerable road users face risks in the US. While road fatalities are falling overall in the US, pedestrians and cyclists have seen an increase in road deaths in recent years. Driver fatalities have dropped from 27,348 in 2006 to 23,611 in 2017. However, road deaths for pedestrians and cyclists have increased from 5,567 in 2006 to 6,760 in 2017. Poor attitude by US drivers is thought to be a key factor. Aggressive behaviour behind the wheel and driver distraction, particularly with the use of cellphones,

Funding is being secured that will help pay for the Sarawak Coastal Highway project in Malaysia. The State Government for Sarawak has set a budget of US$2.65 billion for four key infrastructure projects, including the highway, as well as the second state trunk road. All four of the projects are expected to start in 2019 and 2020. A number of Malaysia’s major contractors are reportedly keen to bid for the coastal highway project. The coastal highway project includes the construction of a number of bridges a

Work is underway in Sweden on a new tunnel, which will connect Hjulstra and Akalla. Demolition of existing structures is being carried to prepare for the tunnel, which is located in the north of capital Stockholm. The tunnel itself is expected to be complete during 2021.

Work is expected to start soon on Bosnia’s Hranjen Tunnel, part of the future Goražde-to-Sarajevo highway. Gorazde Emir Okovic, head of the Podrinje Canton, told Bosnian media despite recent poor weather construction of the road is proceeding. Cost of the six-kilometre double-tube tunnel will be around €92 million with phase one amounting to nearly €36 million. The tunnel will cut the journey between the two towns from 95km to 56km and the time from 90 minutes to 45 minutes.

Croatia is to pay €70 million as its share for a bridge across the River Sava near Gradiska, in Republika Srpska, part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. A year ago, the European Commission set aside a €6.8 million grant for construction of the bridge.

Measures to improve vehicle safety are being planned for Europe. A new report on vehicle safety has now been adopted by the European Parliament’s Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO). The report has been advocated by FIA Region I and sets an ambitious approach to road safety. The report sets out plans on introducing improvements for both active and passive in-vehicle safety. These proven safety technologies should be introduced as standard for all vehicles, according to the report. T