News

Deconstruction of the collapsed Morandi Bridge in Genoa, Italy, has begun, according to RINA Consulting. The first bridge deck section was lowered to the ground from a height of 48m, said Roberto Carpaneto, chief executive of RINA which is responsible for design control and construction management of the project. "We are really satisfied with how this delicate operation is being conducted with the whole construction team working as one to guarantee the best result.” RINA Consulting was chosen by the c

Australia’s construction activity might be slowing down after this year, according to an analysis of the country’s infrastructure activity by Deloitte Access Economics. While a number of factors support an optimistic view that business investment could lift more sharply than forecast over the next two years, latest quarterly Investment Monitor from Deloitte Access Economics is predicting slower growth. “Although the healthy project pipeline will continue to support elevated levels of infrastructure activi

Construction of Vietnam’s North-South expressway is planned to commence during 2019. An initial funding package of US$600 million will pay for the start of the works, which includes buying the land and clearing the way for the route. The winners of the tenders for the first sections should be announced in April-June 2019, with these sections due for completion in 2021. The winners of the tenders for a bridge section on the route should be announced in October 2019, with the bridge due for completion in 2022

Construction work is commencing for Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Sustainable Highlands Highway Investment Programme.

The Senegambia bridge connecting Gambia and Senegal by road is now open to traffic.

Strong sales of construction machines in Italy reflect an improving economy according to construction machinery manufacturing association, UNACEA. During 2018, 14,645 construction machines were sold in the Italian market, a growth of 16% compared to the previous year. Sales of earthmoving machines were particularly healthy, hitting 14,144 units and showing 16% growth from the previous year. Sales of road construction machines grew by 2% to 501 units meanwhile. “2018 has been an encouraging year for the I

The project to build the Riederwaldtunnel highway tunnel in Germany is now likely to cost €477 million. The project was originally expected to cost €322 million. The tunnel will stretch 1.1km and will provide a connection between the A66 and A661 routes. Construction work on the tunnel, located near the city of Frankfurt, is expected to commence in 2020.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has unveiled a list of key targets needed to boost road safety. Driver distraction, fatigue and impairment are key issues needing to be addressed according to the NTSB’s ‘2019-2020 Most Wanted List of Transportation Safety Improvements’. The list highlights key safety improvements that can be made across all transport modes to prevent incidents, minimise injuries and save lives. “The Most Wanted List is our road map from lessons learned to lives saved,”

A huge investment in road upgrades is being planned in the US state of Michigan. The programme of works could cost an additional US$1.5 billion/year, with upgrades for highway routes and key interstate links. The Michigan Department of Transportation's (MDOT) says that this budget will be needed to improve the state’s key road links to the standard required. At the moment just half the required funding is in place, leading to a shortfall in road improvement work. The backlog on repairs and improvements to r

Construction of the Preljina-Pozega section of Serbia’s Corridor 11 route is commencing in March 2019. The project is challenging due to the terrain and this section of the route will include 32 bridges, 11 overpasses, three tunnels and three interchanges. The work is itself being carried out in three sections. One 8.3km section runs from Preljina to Prijevor while there is an 15.5km section from Prijevor to Lucani and a 7km stretch joining Lucani with Pozega.

Construction of Montenegro’s Bar-Boljare motorway now looks likely to cost substantially more than originally planned. The project was originally budgeted at €80 million however Montenegro’s Ministry of Transport has now revealed that the work will have a pricetag some €15 million greater, totalling €95 million. This increase is considerably more than had been allowed for. The work is to be carried out by Chinese contractor CRBC although the deal has yet to be signed officially. The Smokovac-Matesevo stretc

A new bridge carrying Interstate 10 is being planned for Calcasieu in Louisiana. The new structure is expected to cost from US$400-600 million to construct and will feature three lanes in either direction, with provision also for cyclists and pedestrians. The bridge will be built to the north of the existing I-10 bridge, which was constructed in 1952 and is no longer able to cope adequately with the traffic volumes it carries. The new bridge is expected to be funded privately, with tolls for drivers crossin

The Government of Côte d'Ivoire is taking steps to improve the country’s road network, which has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance.