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IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, said it is concerned by lack of progress in road deaths – and calls for a new focus on driver behaviour. Although cars are getting safer and there has been a step change in new road investment, careless human behaviour and increasing traffic levels are cancelling this out, according to the charity. The UK’s Department of Transport announced this week that there were 1,793 reported road deaths in 2017 - an increase of one on 2016. T

A new expressway project is being proposed in Thailand. The project for a new expressway in Phuket is likely to cost US$425.26 million to construct. The project is being proposed under the PPP model. The aim is to an offer an improved link between tambon Kathu and Patong beach in the Phuket area. The existing Highway 4029 has a poor record for road safety. The project will include building an elevated section as well as a tunnel section.

Discussions are being held in Myanmar with regard to the country’s Elevated Expressway Project. The Myanmar Government has been in talks with the International Finance Corporation (IFC). The project is expected to cost US$400 million, with work due to commence in 2019 and likely to require 24-36 months to complete. Building the 24km expressway will improve transport between the north and south of Yangon City. The project will be carried out under the PPP model, with IFC advising on the work.

The contract has been awarded for the construction of a bridge spanning South Africa’s Msikaba Gorge. The project is expected to cost US$110.5 million and the package of works was awarded by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL). A Portuguese and South African joint venture partnership, Concor Mota-Engil, will carry out the work, which will commence in February 2019 and is expected to take 33 months to complete. The bridge will feature a main span of some 580m, making it the longest cable-stayed

The first section of Russia’s new A181 Scandinavia highway is due to open to traffic in October 2018. However, this is 12 months later than was originally planned as the project has been subject to a number of unforeseen issues. The new link will connect St Petersburg with Ogonki and the work has been carried out by contractor VAD, costing US$148.3 million.

The first section of Russia’s new A181 Scandinavia highway is due to open to traffic in October 2018. However, this is 12 months later than was originally planned as the project has been subject to a number of unforeseen issues. The new link will connect St Petersburg with Ogonki and the work has been carried out by contractor VAD, costing US$148.3 million.

Swedish contractor Skanska reports steady progress on its project to construct the Strømnes to Sprova tunnel connection in Norway. The firm has completed the tunnel excavation portion of the work for both the 600m long Holmvik Tunnel and 1,000m long Strømnes Tunnel. The project is costing around €36.5 million and the new road link will measure 5.4km in all, which includes the new tunnels. Work commenced in October 2017 and should be complete in the third quarter of 2019 if all goes to plan. The project is l

Tunnels are being proposed to improve traffic flow between The Hague and Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The Dutch civil engineering consultancy Royal HaskoningHDV has carried out a study into traffic flows between the two cities. According to the study, traffic flow will improve if tunnels are built at Wassenaar where the N44 road becomes the A44 highway. The study predicts and increase in traffic volumes to 57,000 vehicles/day by 2030.

A new bridge project is being planned in Argentina. The new link will connect Parana and Santa Fe. Rivers to be crossed between Parana and Sante Fe include the Parana River, the Colastine River and the Sante Fe River, although it is not yet clear which route will be used. The project is expected to cost from US$600-800 million. This will be included in the Argentinian Government’s 2019 budget. The tender process may commence in October 2018. The work will be carried out under the PPP model.

Algeria’s Ministry of Public Transport is increasing the budget for the Bejaia highway project. An addition US$84.4 million has been secured for the project, which is being carried out jointly by the Chinese contractor CRCC and the local firm Sapta. The work on the highway is now said to be some 75% complete, with the project having cost $852.44 million. There have been some setbacks however and there has been resistance from locals in the area between Sidi Aich and Amizour. When the highway is ready it wil

Sinaloa State in Mexico is to benefit from major infrastructure development, with the budget being supplied by the Mexican Government. One of the key road links that will be upgraded as a result of the US$462 million budget is the link between Badiraguato and Parral, which runs through the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. Highway 24 will be upgraded, improving safety for drivers along this section, which features numerous sharp turns and steep gradients at present. A central section of this highway

Excavation work on Slovakia’s Visnove Tunnel has now been completed. Driving the tunnel took nine months longer than originally anticipated. The 7.5km tunnel will be Europe’s seventh longest when complete and forms part of the D1 highway between Dubna Skala and Lietavska. Work on this highway started in 2014, with the construction being carried out jointly by Italian contractor Salini Impregilo and local firm Duha. Fitting out of the tunnel is now commencing, with equipment such as ventilation and traffic

Russia is looking to boost road safety through a combination of upgrades to existing infrastructure and revised standards. The aim is to cut crashes through targeting known hotspots for incidents. The programme will also tackle congestion in key areas. Data is being collated on the sections of road suffering the highst numbers of crashes and most serious congestion, so that these sections can be prioritised for improvements.