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A consortium composed of Egis Projects and Sanef has signed a contract for the operation of the Port Mann Bridge open road tolling (ORT) project in the Metro Vancouver Area, Canada. The largest transportation infrastructure project in British Columbia history, it includes doubling the capacity of the bridge and widening the highway from Vancouver to Langley, a distance of 37km. Once complete, it will reduce travel times by up to 30%, and save drivers up to an hour a day. The new bridge will also provide for

Hamm is launching a range of compaction equipment at INTERMAT. The company is offering its latest HD+ series of tandem rollers. There are 12 models in the new HD+ series from 9-15 tonnes. The range includes vibration, oscillation and combination rollers as well as models with split drums.

Port road improvements worth US$104 million (A$100 million) will boost connectivity for a key facility in Western Australia. A contract for Esperance's port has been awarded by Australia's Main Roads West Australia to Australia-based John Holland. The engineering and construction firm will be responsible for diversion of a 1.3km section of railway, realignment of 1.8km road and construction of two bridges to cross the railways. The firm, which is a unit of Leighton Holdings, is expected to take around 18 mo

The Scottish Government has announced that a project to complete the M8 and to upgrade several other highways is going to cost about €606 million (£508 million). In all some 18km of highway will be upgraded, although the project will not be completed until 2017, four years later than was originally planned. The delays are blamed on funding issues. The work is being handled by the Transport Scotland agency, which has opened the tender process

The highways authorities in Vietnam intend to increase the percentage of roads and highways built from concrete. A pilot project will see the construction of a 25km highway link connecting the Cau Gie-Ninh Binh and Hanoi-Haiphong expressways. The Department of Planning and Investment is setting out a plan for transport project development using concrete instead of asphalt. The plan will run at least until Transport. The aim behind this strategy is to increase the longevity of road surfaces.

The authorities in Albania are planning to open a new tunnel that will form part of the Tirana-Elbasan highway. This new link is currently under construction and is due to be opened in early May 2012. The tunnel is 4.3km long and is around 66% complete.

The new 13.6tonne Caterpillar 312E small crawler excavator replaces the 312D, while the new 16.7tonne 316E takes over from the 315D. Both machines feature what are said to be highly efficient Cat engines to EU Stage IIIB emissions standard, while providing fuel savings of 8% and 9% respectively.

The new 13.6tonne Caterpillar 312E small crawler excavator replaces the 312D, while the new 16.7tonne 316E takes over from the 315D. Both machines feature what are said to be highly efficient Cat engines to EU Stage IIIB emissions standard, while providing fuel savings of 8% and 9% respectively.

An investment of US$ 646 million will improve sections of road in Mexico’s Jalisco State, as well as other links. A 30km road connecting with Tepic will be upgraded, along with 169km of highway and 111km of another road. Mexican firm IDEAL is investing in the links.

The five new compact-radius Caterpillar E Series Mini Hydraulic Excavators are equipped with a new digital COMPASS—Complete Operation, Maintenance, Performance, and Security System – control panel. Built into the COMPASS monitor are an anti-theft system, requiring a five-digit alphanumeric password to start the machine, and an Economy Mode feature (3.5 to 5.5tonne machines) which, Cat says, can potentially lower fuel use up to 20% by adjusting engine speed.

The EU is granting over €160 million to support key infrastructure projects. This EU co-financing is to come from the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) programme to continue improving transport infrastructure across the EU. The 26 selected projects will use the EU’s financial support to speed up the implementation of important priorities of the TEN-T Programme in order to contribute to delivering a safe, competitive and efficient transport infrastructure network. Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas

Amsterdam in the Netherlands is to benefit from €131 million aimed at improving roads. The funds will be invested in 50 measures including a 9km of peak traffic lanes on the A7 and A8 highway between Purmerend, Zaandam and Oostzaan. This forms part of a €794 million programme of upgrades to the country’s transport infrastructure.

A new law in the US state of Pennsylvania will help boost safety for cyclists. This sets rules for Pennsylvania drivers to follow when encountering a cyclist. Drivers now have to leave a 1.22m space when overtaking cyclists. To achieve this, drivers may have to cross the centre line when passing a bicycle on the left, but only when opposing traffic allows. Drivers attempting to turn left must also yield the right of way to bicycle riders travelling in the opposite direction. The new law also calls for bicyc