News

Some US$15.6 million in federal emergency funds is being made available to Washington State to help repair the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River, which collapsed on May 23rd 2013. The funds were released by US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. A section of the four-lane bridge, located around 100km north of Seattle, collapsed into the water, disrupting travel in both directions. This funding follows $1 million in quick release emergency relief provided the day after the collapse. The Washington

The AXA RoadSafe report shows that although there has been a reduction in the number of children involved in road accidents in the UK in recent years, with the figure now standing at over 2,400 per year, there has been an increase in the proportion of those under the age of five being involved in accidents. Out of the children who are injured or killed, 14% are under the age of five, which compares to just 11% in 2001. This means that more than 300 children under the age of five are being injured or killed

The Hungarian national infrastructure development firm NIF has announced that work on a new stretch of the M44 motorway between Kondoros and Tiszakurt is set to begin in 2014. A public procurement tender for building the 62km route is forecast to be called by NIF in the near future. Investment costs are to be covered from EU funds in line with the country's Transportation Operative Programme (KOZOP) as part of Hungary's New Szechenyi Plan (USZT).

A report by the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) claims that rumble strips on Swedish roads have reduced the number of accidents resulting in fatalities or serious injuries. Road edge rumble strips on motorways are said to have reduced accidents resulting in fatality or serious injury by 17% and for single accidents by 30%.

The Israeli Government is working on plans to ease traffic flow between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Improvements are being made to two roads, Highway 443 and Highway 1. The upgrade works for Highway 1 will cost in the region of US$695 million and will be carried out by Israel National Roads/Netivei Israel. The work will see the construction of two new bridges measuring 800m long apiece and featuring three lanes each as well as two 700m tunnels under the Harel Bridge. Also included are new interchanges in Harel,

Israeli firm Solel Boneh has won a major contract in Nigeria to rebuild and widen the highway connecting Lagos with Ibadan. The US$580 million deal was awarded by the Nigerian Government and the contract involves widening the road, rebuilding the Ibadan-Shagamu section of the highway, rebuilding and maintaining 14 overpasses and bridges as well as improving drainage. Lagos and Ibadan are amongst the largest cities in Africa and the highway carries a huge traffic volume, so the upgrade work is crucial. Contr

AECOM Technology Corporation is working on a US$148 million contract for a section of the Doha Expressway project in Qatar. The three year contract is for construction-supervision and design-review services for the Group 7 section of the Doha Expressway. This new highway will connect Al Khor and Mesaieed. The project is for a 168km stretch of highway, which will provide an important link for Doha’s new port and will also help improve the traffic flow for heavy vehicles around the city. The work will include

With its new cab and single-piece bonnet, the new JCB 417 HT compact wheeled loader certainly looks different to the JCB 416 that it replaces. But there's more to the new model than just aesthetics. Guy Woodford, Assistant Editor of World Highways, took a closer look during JCB’s recent International Press Launch of its 2013 machine range.

A steady reduction in road crashes and fatalities has been noted for key developed nations, according to the International Transport Forum (ITF) Road Safety Annual Report 2013. However there remains a need for further action to reduce casualty levels further. Particular concern has been expressed for vulnerable road users where casualty statistics remain high. Motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists still suffer worrying high levels of crashes, more often victims of poor road use by others. Meanwhile anothe

The crawler excavator operator in this incident had a close call when the bridge being demolished collapsed unexpectedly. The accident happened in Norway during the demolition of an old highway bridge.

A steady reduction in road crashes and fatalities has been noted for key developed nations, according to the International Transport Forum (ITF) Road Safety Annual Report 2013. However there remains a need for further action to reduce casualty levels further. Particular concern has been expressed for vulnerable road users where casualty statistics remain high. Motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists still suffer worrying high levels of crashes, more often victims of poor road use by others. Meanwhile anothe

A steady reduction in road crashes and fatalities has been noted for key developed nations, according to the International Transport Forum (ITF) Road Safety Annual Report 2013. However there remains a need for further action to reduce casualty levels further. Particular concern has been expressed for vulnerable road users where casualty statistics remain high. Motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists still suffer worrying high levels of crashes, more often victims of poor road use by others. Meanwhile anothe

The Polish regional government of the Malopolskie voivodeship has decided to allocate US$629.16 million (PLN 2bn) to road projects from its EU budget for 2014-2020. Rail projects will also receive $62.76 million (PLN 200mn), with Szybka Kolej Aglomeracyjna (SKA) to be one of the beneficiary projects.

Russia's government has approved a US$20.77 billion (RUB 664bn) programme for new transport and other infrastructure ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. According to published documents, the federal budget will account for 50% of the total. Regional budgets and private investors will provide the rest.