News

Mayors of north-west Bohemia have urged the Czech Prime Minister to provide funds for the completion of the R7 dual carriageway. The project was launched in 1964 but has made slow progress. There are several completed sections while preparation of others was cancelled in 2012. At present, a 15.8km section between Chomutov and Velemysleves is being built with completion scheduled for September 2013. There are no other plans at present after the construction of this section worth US$ 234.48 million (CZK 4.50b

Motorists in the Hungarian capital Budapest may have to pay a congestion charge from 2016, according to the city’s transport authority BKK. Public transport system improvements, prior to the possible introduction of the congestion charge, are due to be completed by 2015. Park-and-ride (P+R) facilities are expected to be set up by 2016.

The electronic toll system viaTOLL has been expanded in Poland. On 12 January 12 2013, an extra 140km of A1 motorway and S1 and S8 dual carriageways came under the viaTOLL network, according to the directive of the Polish Council of Ministers. A further 160km expansion of viaTOLL is scheduled for 30 March 2013.

A new study is calling for a more standardised approach for estimating the benefits of road safety initiatives. The aim of this is to save lives through the use of better road safety indicators. There is a clear need too. Almost 1.3 million people die in road crashes every year, and between 20 and 50 million are injured. Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among young people between 15 and 29 years of age. Road crashes cost countries around 1-3% of their GDP. In the face of these facts, the

The authorities in Chile and Argentina have signed a key agreement over the Agua Negra Tunnel project. This new tunnel will provide a new link between the two countries. The link is expected to feature a twin tube design and will connect the Argentinian province of San Juan and the Chilean IV Region of Coquimbo. The tunnel will form a crucial component in the Mercosur route. The new tunnel will be in the vicinity of the current Paso de Agua Negra border crossing. When it is complete, the planned Mercosur ro

A joint international road safety award has been presented to the Spanish Road Association and the Inter-American Development Bank. The IRF International Award on Road Safety was given for the Road Safety Strategy in Latin America and Caribbean (Diagnosis, Toolkit and Pilot Tests) project, which developed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) with the technical support of the Spanish Road Association (SRA). This forms part of the IRF Global Road Achievement Award (GRAA) 2012 and is one of the most im

Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) is consolidating its production of backhoe loaders in the Americas with additional investment. Volvo CE will relocate its backhoe loader manufacture from Tultitlán, Mexico, to the company’s production facility in Pederneiras, Brazil. This is part of a plan to streamline production and gain efficiencies of scale, strengthening of its industrial footprint in the Americas. Regional production of backhoe loaders will be moved from the facility at Tultitlán in Mexico, to a

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has extended a US$196.5 million loan to Kazakhstan to fund the reconstruction of 62km of road from Shymkent to the Uzbekistan border. The project is part of the construction of the Western Europe - Western China transport corridor.

The bC India 2013 event looks set to be a well-attended and successful exhibition, according to the latest figures from the US-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), which is one of the co-organisers. Nearly 700 exhibitors from 33 countries have applied for space at bC India which will also feature an extensive supporting programe. The number of exhibitors sets a record for this event, the International Trade Fair for Construction Machinery, Building Material Machines, Mining Machines and Const

The Victoria Park Tunnel project in New Zealand has won an international award for construction methodology. The Victoria Park Alliance was presented with the 2012 International Road Federation (IRF) Global Road Achievement Award for Construction Methodology for the Victoria Park Tunnel project at an event in Washington, DC. The Alliance comprises the New Zealand Transport Agency, Fletcher Construction, Beca, Higgins Contractors and Parsons Brinckerhoff. Parsons Brinckerhoff was involved in concept design f

A landmark deal has been agreed between Shandong Heavy Industry Weichai Power and the German Kion Group. This is claimed to be the largest financial investment in Germany to date made by a Chinese company. Kion is a leading international producer of forklift trucks and under the terms of this deal, it will work with Weichai Power to develop a common platform for the machines for sale worldwide. The Chinese investment will also boost manufacturing capability within Europe. Weichai Power is investing €738 mil

Formwork solutions for the first axial suspension cable stayed bridge in India; and a four-lane road bridge in Germany’s Harz Mountains, are among the latest bridge-based formwork projects analysed by Guy Woodford RMD Kwikform India has won the contract to design and supply shoring and formwork solutions for the first axial suspension cable stayed bridge ever built in India. The Kota Bridge’s innovative design sees a single 350m span cross the entire width of the Chambal River, with three approach spans on

Several manufacturers are offering improved earthmoving machines, with more to come - Mike Woof reports One of the most notable developments comes from Caterpillar, with the unveiling of a hybrid excavator in the shape of its 336E H model. The machine is having its public launch at the bauma exhibition in Spring 2013 and will start rolling out of the factory in March 2013, while customers will be able to place orders from February 2013. Unlike other hybrid excavators on the market at present, the Cat 336E

Emissions remain the focus for engine development but equipment manufacturers want clarity from regulators Emissions remain a major challenge for the off-highway construction equipment market. The EU has tough targets in this respect and its objective is an overall reduction of CO2 emissions of 80-95% by the year 2050, compared to 1990 levels. There is considerable research already underway on how to reduce fuel consumption and to help ensure the security of energy supply. A number of industry sectors, such