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Topcon Positioning is broadening its solutions to the construction sector with a combination of partnerships and acquisitions. The firm has acquired a significant share of Finnish design software specialist Viasys VDC, adding to its portfolio of (BIM) technologies. This firm offers a comprehensive suite of tools and services for building Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) models for infrastructure and site-work projects. The VDC models from Viasys can be used to optimise the construction process through

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, has met with road safety and road victims groups to discuss the future of European road safety targets. Representatives of the European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) and the European Federation of Road Traffic Victims (FEVR) discussed a campaign calling for a new European target to reduce serious road injuries, alongside an existing target to reduce deaths by half by 2020.

There is both good and bad to be seen in the latest data on UK road safety from the Department for Transport (DfT). For the year ending September 2015 there were 23,700 killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties, a 3% decrease compared with the previous year. However road deaths increased by 3% to 1,780, compared with 1,731 for the year ending September 2014. There were also 188,830 reported road casualties of all severities, 3% lower than for the year ending September 2014. Of note is the fact that motor

Kohler Engines is preparing its dealer network for further emissions regulation with increased training, including the use of its iService multimedia platform. The company offers service training courses throughout its network, in branches, distributors and authorised workshops. In addition it is offering distance learning through the iService portal. This combines the traditional viewing of service manuals with interactive content including 3D movies. This can be accessed on computers, tablets and smartpho

Massenza is broadening its range of capabilities with the acquisition of the Strassmayr business. This deal adds a wide array of road repair equipment to the Massenza line up. The firm offers innovative systems for repairing roads such as the Patcher STP 1008 and Thermo Container AC 8000E. Also added to the Massenza range are the RWK 600/500H cracksealer and SFF 12 milling machine as well as the BF 290 road widener and R7500 C vario surface repair machine for use on larger projects.

An important new highway connection is being planned in the Czech Republic. The road will provide a link between the D8 Teplice highway and the Chomutov expressway. The Czech Transport Ministry has given its approval for an allocation of €166.55 million to the country’s Central Bohemian region for the construction work on the link road. However the project will still have to be approved by the Czech Government. Should the work go ahead, the project will be split into three phases, with construction of the f

Plans are being set out for improvements to the key road connection linking Slovenia with Austria. The proposals call for a second Karavanke Tunnel. At present a single two lane tunnel connects Jesenice in Slovenia with Villach in Austria. Completed in 1991, the tunnel suffers heavy congestion at present with traffic delays frequent at peak periods and particularly during the holiday season. A second tunnel would boost capacity and help reduce the delays. Geological survey work will have to be carried out a

Malaysia’s Federal Government and Sarawak State Government have agreed to construct a bridge in Sri Aman. The new bridge will span the Sungai Batang Lupar waterway in Sri Aman. The work will be managed and funded on a 50-50 basis by Malaysia’s Federal Government and the Sarawak State Government. In addition, construction work on the Pan-Borneo Highway is now underway. This major project is expected to cost around US$3.95 billion and will improve transport between Malaysia and its neighbours, helping boost e

A new agreement has been signed that will improve transport links between West African nations. The agreement for the new Lagos Dakar highway has been made by the Economic Community of Western States (Cedeao). In all five memoranda of understanding (MoU) were signed by Cedeao with the Chinese construction and public works company CGCOC Group. These MoU encompass the trans-western African coastal highway, as well as telecoms infrastructure, local civil aviation, railway links and the construction of the new

Egis is now working on a new contract for Vindhyachal Expressway Private Limited (VEPL) on India’s National Highway 7. The three year concession is for the 73km National Highway 7 (NH-7), which connects the main city of Rewa and Hanumana of the Indian federal state of Madhya Pradesh. Egis is in charge of toll collection, route patrolling and incident management and routine maintenance of a section of the stretch (40 km) with one toll plaza of 6 lanes.

Balfour Beatty is now working on a seven year, €323.94 million (£245 million) highways maintenance contract in the UK. This package of works is for Coventry City Council, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council and Warwickshire County Council. There is an option to extend the contract for a further three years. Balfour Beatty Living Places will work in partnership with the three Councils. This collaborative arrangement in the local authority highways market will provide a single source service provider acr

A new report by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) shows that older motorists favour tighter health and ability tests on the over-70s to drive. The IAM report, Keeping Older Drivers Safe and Mobile, shows that most older drivers agree with tighter rules on checking health and suitability, even if those checks could take them off the road themselves.