News

The Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket) has unveiled a US$81.02 billion (SEK 522bn) plan for national transport systems in 2014-15. Around $43.66 billion (SEK 281 billion) of the budget been earmarked for transport system development, $24.05 billion (SEK 155bn) will be spent on road maintenance, and $13.34 billion (SEK 86bn) have been earmarked for railway maintenance. The Transport Administration’s plan also includes investment in speed cameras along 60,000kms of road as well as around 100 cros

Financing for Slovakia’s new D3 highway project will be sourced from the European Commission. The D3 lies in the north of this small country and the project has been the focus for intensive discussions over its importance and even, the need for its construction. When it is complete the D3 will connect with Poland and the Czech Republic and will help improve connectivity in the area, and it is this point that the Slovakian Transport Ministry has used as a bargaining tool in its discussions in Brussels. It is

A Taiwanese-owned construction company will build a new road in Vietnam’s Quang Hing Province. The new road will measure 20km long and will connect Ha Long City and Bach Dang Bridge. Costing close to US$276 million to construct, the road will connect with the existing Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway. The work is being carried out under the build-transfer model and is due for completion by 2015. The new road will feature four lanes in all, with two lanes in either direction, and the project includes the construct

Connectivity will be improved in Papua New Guinea (PNG) following completion of three new road projects for which construction is now commencing. The PNG Government is planning works for three new roads, which will cost some US$134 million to construct. The work includes improving a section of road that connects 9-Mile junction and Erima from three-lane to four lanes and this project will be carried out by Dekenai Construction.

Preventing a decline in European construction equipment sales in 2013 appears to be “out of reach”, according to the Quarterly Economic Bulletin from the Committee for European Construction Equipment (CECE). The Q1 2013 bulletin from the lead organisation for representing and promoting the European construction equipment and related industries states that “far beyond anticipated” first quarter sales declines were likely due to a particularly long and cold winter in many parts of Europe and the industry awai

A further US$94.08 million (£60mn) is to be spent on fixing the Hammersmith flyover “monstrosity” in west London, England. Transport for London (TfL) is to fund a second phase of repairs to the structure’s badly corroded arches due to start in October 2013. The flyover was shut to all traffic just before Christmas 2011 to allow initial emergency arch repairs – leading to huge traffic chaos in west London – before being partially reopened a few weeks later. It was not fully opened until late May 2012.

The News South Wales state government in Australia has US$542.6 million (AUD 564.6mn) for preparatory works for the construction of the Ballina-Woolgoolga section of the Pacific Highway. Under the project, a 155km road is to be built between Ballina and Woolgoolga, while a 2km exit road to Ballina Bypass, wildlife crossings and bridges over Emigrant and Duck creeks as well as Richmond and Clarence rivers will be constructed. Funds for the preparatory works are to be shared equally by the state government an

The Ethiopian Roads Authority has awarded a contract worth at least US$149.77 million (ETB 2.8bn) for a road upgrade to two China-based firms, with works due to be wrapped up in 36 months. Under the deal, the two companies are to upgrade a 133km road between the districts of Mille and Kombolcha from gravel to asphalt-concrete roads. Money for the works is being sourced from a loan extended by the World Bank.

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that strong demand for TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grants is continuing. Once again the number of applications has surpassed the available funding. Applications to the US Department of Transportation for TIGER 2013 grants totalled more than US$9 billion, far exceeding the $474 million set aside for the programme. The Department received 568 applications from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and

Public transport solutions provider Xerox has been successful in winning orders for its ticketing systems, most recently in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Chihuahua, Mexico. In Kuala Lumpur, the company will supply its Atlas contactless ticketing system and equipment to public transport operator Mass Rapid Transit Corporation for a new railway line that will cross the urban area of the city. Over the next five years, Xerox’s field teams will deploy the ticketing system, install 300 gate controllers and 200 tick

Technology developed by Melbourne’s La Trobe University’s Centre for Technology Infusion that aims to reduce or even eliminate accidents at railway level crossings is to be trialled by the Queensland government as part of a $2 million commitment to address safety at rail crossings. The system uses GPS and dedicated short range communications (DSRC) wireless technology to establish a wireless connection between trains and vehicles approaching a railway crossing. The system is designed to detect the possibili

JCB has announced a successor to CEO Alan Blake who is to retire at the end of the year. Blake, 63, joined JCB in 1989 and became CEO in 2010 after holding a number of senior positions in the company, and after leading the biggest production expansion in JCB’s history. Since his appointment as CEO, Alan has presided over the company’s return to sales and production growth against a backdrop of continued economic uncertainty around the world, including last year’s 10% contraction in the global construction e

Alan Tolley, JCB’s director of engine programmes, recently spoke to World Highways Assistant Editor Guy Woodford about the company’s new six-cylinder engine - the JCB Dieselmax 672. The result of a £45 million investment by JCB was unveiled during the firm’s recent International Press Launch of its new machine range for 2013 held at JCB World HQ in Staffordshire, central England.

The International Road Federation is inviting entries for its Global Road Achievement Awards (GRAA) programme. According to the IRF, this competition is intended to highlight innovative road projects and individuals that raise the profile of roads in worldwide social and economic development. The awards provide an important route for promoting road industry innovation and achievements receive worldwide publicity. Winners will receive a crystal trophy at the 17th IRF World Meeting & Exhibition in Riyadh late

The new Vidin–Calafat Bridge – also known Danube Bridge 2 – was being officially opened today. A road and rail bridge between the cities of Calafat, Romania and Vidin, Bulgaria, Danube Bridge 2 is the second bridge on the shared section of the Danube between Romania and Bulgaria. Expected to today’s event were dignitaries including the president of the Republic of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev, Romania Prime Minister Victor Ponta, and European Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn.