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The Nepalese authorities closed the incomplete third phase section of the BP highway to traffic following two fatal accidents recently. In all 58 people were killed in the two accidents on the Khurkot-Nepalthok stretch of the BP highway route, although construction work on the stretch has yet to be completed. So far 123km of the 158km route has been built by a Japanese contractor and these three stretches of the road have been opened to traffic. Of the remaining 37km being built, some 14km should be complet

Fresh talks are due to take place in January in a bid to kick-start the stalled Cork-Limerick motorway project in Ireland. Cork County Council (CCC) engineer Noel O'Keeffe will meet Leo Varadkar, the Transport Minister, and the National Roads Authority, to find a way forward for the €800million (US$1.04billion) scheme. The 80km motorway cost CCC €19.5million (US$25.42million) to design before it was recently shelved by the NRA due to the lack of funds.

Nissan is accelerating plans for a European-wide Quick Charge (QC) network for electric vehicles by giving away 400 new quick charging stations free of charge. These new points will boost existing networks and give EV customers greater freedom and flexibility by effectively extending the range of their car.

Solel Boneh International (SB) has won a US$210million contract to build a 2.1km bridge over Benue River in Nigeria. Besides the bridge, the Israeli company will also build 22km of access roads for a four-lane dual carriageway in the eastern part of the West African country. The project is expected to take three years to complete. Solel Boneh is the overseas contracting arm of Shikun u'Binui Holdings.

A new four-lane highway will boost connectivity in the Astana-Petropavlovsk-Kurgan region. The project is due for completion in 2014. Kazakhstan will allot $1.21 billion for the project, which will improve transport links with neighbouring Russia and boost trade between the two countries.

Nepal's Department of Roads is now analysing traffic data based on research work into congestion carried out by consultants. Two local consulting firms were appointed to carry out a study of flyovers, underpasses and ramps in congested areas.

Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) has awarded TransCore a US$3.3 million contract to replace its existing traffic management software system and integrate the company's TransSuite traffic management software into the Gateway Guide programme, a system designed to relieve congestion and improve safety in the St. Louis area, the state’s largest city. With an existing TransSuite deployment in Kansas City, MoDOT looked to TransCore to bring its products to bear in their largest urban area. A detail

A two-year US$150million feasibility study has begun into plans to build a 33km bridge in Indonesia. Project planner Wiratman & Associates will co-operate with Streto di Messina of Italy during the study of the US$291.2million Sunda Strait bridge project, managed and funded by the Banten-Lampung consortium and Bangungraha Sejahtera Mulia.

The US Government is making progress with its new surface transportation bill, in a move that will be of good news to all contractors and construction firms in the country. This bill has been delayed now for two years, with a knock-on effect for the construction industry in that there have been few new works commencing. American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) president Pete Ruane has commented on the US Senate EPW Committee Mark-Up of MAP-21, the Surface Transportation Bill. Ruane said,

India's capital Delhi looks set to see the introduction of a congestion charging scheme. The city authorities plan to launch the scheme in a bid to tackle endemic traffic congestion.

Work on Indonesia's new 116km Palimanan-Cikampek highway is now commencing. The work is being managed by Malaysian firm PLUS Expressways (PLUS) and is the company's first Indonesian highway projects.

Nissan Motor Company has released its next generation fuel cell stack (2011 Model) for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV). The latest technology development is part of the company's continuing efforts towards the realisation of a zero emission society. Through improvements to the MEA (membrane electrode assembly) and the separator flow path, which make up the structure of fuel cells, Nissan says it has significantly improved the power density of its fuel cell stack to 2.5 times greater than its 2005 model a