News

Plans are being worked on in Norway for a new tunnel development for part of capital Oslo’s ring Road. The Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property (Statsbygg) has proposed that part of ring road Ring 1 in Oslo should be placed underground where it runs close to the government quarter. The proposed changes are part of a risk assessment for the government quarter decreed by the Defence Estates Agency (Forsvarsbygg). Knut Jørgensen, project manager in Statsbygg, says that Statsbygg recommends

A series of major road rebuilding projects in Bolivia look likely to be handled by Chinese contractors. The Bolivian Government is deciding on the Chinese firms that will carry out road infrastructure works in the country. This decision follows from a loan provided via the Chinese Government loan worth US$7.5 billion. There have been criticisms of the link between the loan and Chinese firms being allowed a greater chance of winning repair contracts. But this has been deflected by the Bolivian Government, wh

Investment bank Bankia and Spanish construction firm FCC have sold their 50-50 joint venture infrastructure management firm Globalvia to three pension funds for €420 million. Madrid-based Bankia and FCC -- Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas, based in Barcelona -- said their decision to sell their holdings was part of their plans to divest non-strategic businesses. Globalvia manages public-private partnerships, of which 90% are in Spain. Purchasers are UK-based USS, OPTrust in Canada and Netherlands-ba

Costa Rica’s road agency Conavi has extended the deadline and increase funds by $154 million for road repair and maintenance contracts. Contracts will be extended for the companies involved which include Constructora Meco, Grupo Orosi, Quebradores del Sur, Constructora Hernan Solis and Conansa. The Treasury Inspector's Office made the announcement, according to El Pais newspaper. Meanwhile, four banks are considering an investment in the 60km San Jose-San Ramon Road Expansion Project. They include

In Bangladesh, the draft detailed design of the US$5.14 billion Dhaka-Chittagong highway has been approved by the government. The feasibility study to execute the plan has already been completed. The highway will measure 198km in length. The project is to be implemented under a public-private partnership (PPP) basis.

The Chilean government has announced around 800 road projects for 2016, mostly linked to road concessions, costing about US$1.44 billion. Schemes include those on the Autopista del Sol motorway, such as a third lane between Santiago and Talagante, an alternative access to Penaflor, improvements to the Talagante link and a control centre. In addition, a $5.2 million stop-and-go tag-type toll payment system will be introduced for Autopista del Sol, which will be similar to ones on Ruta 5 Sur between Angost

Nicaragua has boosted it budget by $84 million for 2016 in an effort to stimulate the construction sector, local media report. Public resources will reach around US$600 million and will be aimed to fund infrastructure work such as the Rio Blanco Mulukuku road and the Naciones Unidas-Bluefields road. The Ministry of Transport will receive $200 million of the budget of which $46 million will be earmarked for the road maintenance fund – Fomav – concerning nearly 2,600kmn or roads. In addition, money w