News

More than 1,600 people took part in four days of transport research topic discussion at the TRA2012 conference in Athens, Greece. The event between 23-26 April included a special focus on infrastructure, with large numbers of FEHRL (Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories) members taking part in different sessions. One key strategic session titled ‘Infrastructure for the 21st century’ was moderated by Hans Jeekel (Rijkswaterstaat) and featured Marit Brandtsegg from Statens Vegvesen (NPRA) a

Telvent GIT has been awarded a contract by the Transcity JV, with Brisbane City Council as the end customer, to implement the ITS for Legacy Way (formerly Northern Link) in Australia. Legacy Way is a 4.6km road tunnel that will connect Brisbane’s western and inner northern suburbs, delivering travel time savings of up to 44 per cent when it opens. The ITS contract is valued at around US$32 million.

Austrian construction company Strabag SE has issued a US$131.8million (€100million) corporate bond. The fixed-interest bond has a term to maturity of seven years and a coupon of 4.25 % per annum. A Strabag spokesperson said the bond issue had already been met with great interest among institutional investors. It is also available for subscription to Austrian, German and Luxembourgian private investors until 8 May, 2012. With a face value of US$1,318 (€1,000), the bond is targeted not only at institutional

The state Government in New South Wales (NSW), Australia is making a major investment designed to boost road safety. Some US$156 million (A$170 million) is being set aside.

A US$4 billion bypass contract has been signed in Hong Kong. The deal for the Central-Wan Chai Bypass project has been agreed by the Hong Kong Highways Department with the joint venture Chun Wo-CRGL-MBEC.

Manitou Group president Jean-Christophe Giroux said 2012 would be the year of “Refoundation” for the Group after it recorded a 19% rise in revenue in the first quarter of the year to US$416.6million (€316million). Growing revenue, sustained order intake and high backlog had, said Giroux, given Manitou a great platform for the coming year and beyond. “Things are undoubtedly getting more and more difficult in Southern Europe but Northern Europe, the US, and Asia are showing resilient signs for positive busine

The first INTERMAT Middle East, the international exhibition for machinery, materials and equipment for construction and infrastructure, has been held in Abu Dhabi.

New research in Spain that explored solutions to reducing traffic noise suggests that the best option is to combine global measures, such as speed restrictions, and local measures, such as noise screens.

Telvent GIT has been awarded a project to develop the smart mobility management system in the city of Quito, in Ecuador. This ambitious project, headed up by EPMMOP (the Metropolitan Public Mobility and Public Works Company) is intended to solve the traffic problems facing the two million citizens in Quito’s metropolitan area each day.

In the UK severe winter conditions for the second year in succession have resulted in an increase in the number of pavement surface failures and potholes developing. With local authorities facing budget cuts as part of the UK Government's austerity drive to reduce debt, there is little funding left for planned road maintenance work, let alone repairing potholes. The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents local authorities in England and Wales, says that there is a shortage of some €194 million

Major repairs are required to roads and bridges in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro State following the recent spate of flooding. In all 185 bridges and five roads will have to be repaired or rebuilt, with the work expected to cost in the region of US$237.6 million. Severe weather conditions caused the flooding, which was particularly heavy in in the hilly regions of Nova Friburgo, Teresopolis, Sumidouro, Petropolis, Bom Jardim, Sao Jose do Vale do Rio Preto and Areal.

South Africa's Transport Ministry has set out plans for a new road improvement programme. Called S'Hambe Sonke the US$3.04 billion programme will run for three years and tackle improvements to secondary roads. Filling potholes will be the priority of the plan, which is intended to employ up to 70,000 people during 2011 and help provide work. Labour intensive construction methods will be used according to the Transport Ministry, which means that many of the repairs will use traditional techniques rather than

Investigations are in hand in Costa Rica over a series of faults on the highway linking capital San Jose with Caldera. The US$230 million highway has suffered surface cracking in certain stretches, while a number of landslides have also occurred along the route that have required clearing and for repairs to be made. Costa Rica's authorities are investigating Autopistas del Sol following allegations of corruption with regard to the San Jose to Caldera highway project. The investigations are looking at the co