News

Europe’s cross-border police body TISPOL reports positive results from the recent pan-European seatbelt enforcement drive. The data shows that over 100,000 drivers and passengers were detected for not wearing seatbelts. A total of 24 countries took part in the operation, which was co-ordinated by TISPOL. Of the final total of 104,838 offences, 3,245 related to children not wearing seatbelts or other safety restraints. The remaining 101,593 offences related to adult vehicle occupants. Commenting on the resul

Parsons Brinckerhoff is now working with Blythe Construction on a US$69 million project for the Salem Creek Connector in Winston-Salem. The deal was awarded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the two companies are handling the design and construction for a 1.7km section of four-lane highway on US52, which includes concrete pavement widening work. The project includes a new diverging diamond interchange and eight new bridges, including two railroad bridges. The new roadway is red

The Finnish VTT research body believes that hydrogen offers considerable potential as a future fuel, according to its latest study. The Finnish hydrogen roadmap has been compiled by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and partly funded by the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes). According to VTT’s study, hydrogen fuelled vehicles will be as important as electric/battery types in minimising traffic pollution. The study says that transport applications for hydrogen are now close

A report on road accident victims compiled by the Spanish breakdown recovery service Real Automovil Club de Espana (RACE) and tyres manufacturer Goodyear claims that pedestrians will always die if run over by a vehicle speeding at 70km/h. The report states that at 40km/h, the risk of pedestrian death after being run over is of 22%; with the death rate rising to 71% at 50km/h, and 95% at 60km/h. Most accidents of this kind, says RACE, occur at junctions and at the side of the road when drivers of broken down

JP Autoceste FBiH, the state-owned motorway company of Bosnia's Muslim–Croat Federation, has revealed that the International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide consultancy for finding a private partner for three sections of Corridor Vc. The IFC consultancy-covered sections are Doboj Jug (Karusa)-Medakovo (4km); Medakovo-Ozimica (21km); and Ozimica-Poprikusa (13.7km). The consultancy deal will last for a period of 15 months during which a due diligence of costs and a study for the three Corridor Vc secti

Construction of Mexico-Puebla highway’s second level will start in early 2014, according to the head of the Communications and Transport Ministry, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza. Meanwhile, the Secretariat of Communications and Transport in Mexico has opened an international tender process for the construction of the Siglo XXI road in the Morelos state. Those interested in taking part in the process have until 12 June 2013 to buy the tender's terms and conditions. The new contract involves the construction, operation

A new PPP agreement in Ireland will add a further 50km of motorway to the country’s road network. The new motorway construction will be carried out to the south of capital Dublin. The work will be carried out by the Dutch construction company BAM with financing for this PPP deal being provided by the pension fund manager PGGM. BAM and PGGM signed a PPP contract with the Irish National Roads Authority to build the new motorway links. Construction work is expected to commence in July 2013 and is due for compl

In Indonesia major road development plans are in hand for Papua, with an expansion of the network being set out. The Ministry of Public Works has detailed its strategic programme for Papua which includes the development of 11 roads totalling 37,499km in all. The 11 national and provincial roads include new links from Timika - Potowaiburu - Enarotali; Wamena- Habema - Kenyam; Depapre - Bonggrang; Ring Road Jayapura - Sentani; Serui - Menawi - Saubeba; Nabire - Wagete - Enarotali; Timika - mapurajaya - Pomako

Work in the UAE city of Sharjah will improve traffic flow and reduce the risk of jams and delays. Two road projects worth some US$272.26 million will cut chronic congestion in the city. The work includes the extension of Al Arouba Street and the extension of the King Abdul Aziz Road, with dual four-lane carriageways, which will be integrated with the Sharjah Bridge.

An EU subsidy of over €600.65 million (PLN 2.5bn) has been approved for the ring road project in the Polish capital Warsaw. The construction of the southern ring road is delayed as it was planned for the road to be ready in time for the Euro 2012. The whole project is valued at more than €1.031 billion (PLN 4.3bn). The road includes the S79 section between the Marynarska and Lotnisko junctions as well as the S2 section between the Pulawska and Kontpoie junctions. When ready, the road will ease the access to

Several motorways in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro will undergo construction works costing at least US$1.99 billion (BRL 4bn) in 2013 as part of the state's economic growth plan. On 25 April 2013, work began on turning a 70.9km stretch of BR-101 Norte into a dual carriageway, creating around 400 direct jobs. The next expansions will be on Via Dutra, on Ponte Rio-Niteroi's connection with Avenida Brasil and the Linha Vermelha, and on BR-040's stretch between Duque Caxias and Petropolis

The Lazio region of central Italy is to benefit from the implementation of a strategic plan for the intermodal transport development of hub ports with the road and logistic network. Promoted by the port authority of Civitavecchia, Fiumicino and Gaeta, the execution of the plan will follow the signing of a logistic platform agreement by local and ministerial authorities. The investment budget amounts to €905 million (US$ 1.19 billion), of which €370 million is coming from private funds. The remaining part wi

Research by European motorcycle body ACEM reveals that the number of powered two wheeler (PTW) rider fatalities has decreased by 27% in 10 years (2001-2010). ACEM performed an analysis of road safety statistics based on International Road Traffic Accident Data (IRTAD) data for the period 2001-2010. But despite this positive result the percentage of PTW rider fatalities has increased in the overall transport mix, due to a much greater reduction in fatalities amongst other road user groups. The research shows

The Egyptian Government has signed four agreements with Chinese companies that are intended to develop and improve the economic area northwest of the Gulf of Suez. Under the terms of these agreements the Chinese companies will be investing US$500 million into the area with this sum being delivered in three stages. The Egyptian Government expects the move by these companies to attract an additional investment of $1 billion in the region. As part of the development for the area, Egypt's National Authority for