News

Bidding is now open for a key new highway connection in Israel. The tender is for upgrade work on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Highway Road 1. Israel National Roads Co (INRC) is upgrading this key link and the tender is for the second stretch of work. So far, INRC received three bids for the contract. The project involves the construction of an interchange at the Neve Ilan intersection. Bids for work on the highway have been submitted by Eyal Sela 1991, Gili and Yoel Azaria as well as Shafir Civil and Marine Engi

The incoming president of the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) has called for the UK to consider banning HGVs from its motorways on Sundays. Richard Hayes, who takes up his new role at the IHE AGM tomorrow, said he will be writing to the Roads Minister, Mike Penning, to request the Department of Transport investigates a possible ban. Hayes said several mainland European Union countries impose restrictions on the times and days when HGVs can be driven on public roads. France, Spain and Italy have a gene

UK construction sector firms are being urged to attend an event outlining commercial opportunities linked to the development of US$140 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Qatar ahead of the Gulf state’s hosting of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. During MEED’s Qatar Infrastructure Projects conference, being held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London from July 2-5, Middle East company formation experts The Links Group will provide insight to companies interested in entering the Qatari project market.

The Danish consultant Cowi is working on a study for Norway’s Rogfast Tunnel, which will be the world's longest and deepest tunnel. The 25km tunnel is planned to open to traffic in 2021. It will cost some €1.08 billion to construct. Cowi has landed contracts for preliminary studies but is also keen to take on a portion of detailed planning.

Works on Serbia’s Strazevica tunnel is due for completion in May 2012. The tunnel forms part of the Belgrade ring road. Serbia’s government is also planning to finish the construction of a total of 200km of the Corridor 10 motorway, following the completion of the Strazevica–Bubanj and Batajnica–Dobanovci sections. Work on the remaining 130km will commence soon. Meanwhile, work on the Ljig–Preljina section of Corridor 11 is now underway.

Work is on schedule for a new tunnel for the Corridor Vc highway in Bosnia and Herzogovina. The link will be from Drivusa to Kakanj and is due for completion in February 2014. The project is worth some €62million. The contract is being carried out by Slovenian firm Primorje.

The company handling the Fehmarnbelt tunnel project that will connect Denmark and Germany has confirmed that the project will now be delayed. Femern has revealed that construction will not start before summer 2015, a year later than originally planned. Denmark is expected to commence its environmental compatibility study in May 2013.

Fugro Aperio collected and processed data from up to 7,000km lanes of English trunk roads as part of a just completed Traffic Speed Structural Survey (TRASS) contract. The work, commissioned by TRL on behalf of the Highways Agency (HA), saw the Cambridge-based survey specialist gain information using the HA’s Traffic Speed Deflectometer (TSD). The innovative TSD technology uses Doppler lasers to measure the speed at which the pavement deflects in response to load. The non-contact IT allows surveys to be con

Not all drivers are aware of height restrictions

The authorities in Chile plan to invest some US$500 million for improving the road links within capital Santiago. The work will focus on the east of the fast growing city and includes eight separate projects intended to ease traffic congestion, with the first due to commence in October 2012. The projects include a tunnel under Mapoco river connecting Costanera Norte and the Central motorway, two new bridges over Manquehue and Kennedy avenue and works on La Concepcion exit. The Perez Zujovic roundabout will

Mineral Products Association (MPA) results for the first quarter of 2012 indicate a substantial reduction in sales of aggregates, ready-mixed concrete and asphalt, confirming new GDP figures showing that declining construction activity has triggered the UK’s latest recession. Compared with the same period of 2011, sales volumes of crushed rock and sand and gravel aggregates declined by 13% and 12% respectively in the first three months of 2012, and sales volumes of ready-mixed concrete and asphalt fell by 9

The new eastern bypass for Khabarovsk in Russia is being discussed by the local authorities. The 30km highway will feature four lanes and will connect the Chita–Khabarovsk (M-58) and Khabarovsk–Vladivostok (M-60) highways. It will also link with roads in the city at nine interchanges. The highway will have a speed limit of 140km/h. The project will be run on a public–private partnership basis and will cost US$540million. The government will provide 20–25% of the finances required, with the rest coming from

In Albania the government is giving its approval for an €80million (US$104.4million) loan being provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The project is for the Fier bypass, which forms part of the Tirana–Vlora highway. The project has faced a series of delays since work commenced a number of years ago. However, this new funding will help ensure that the work is completed.