News

Consultancy firm Atkins has won a major contract in the US to support highway operations and reduce congestion nationwide. The deal will see Atkins working with the US Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Office of Operations to reduce congestion and improve mobility across the country’s highway network. The US$132 million multiple-award contract is intended to help improve the safety and efficiency of the US transportation system by accelerating the deployment and integration of innovative technologies.

Work is now starting on the new bridge linking Paraguay and Brazil. The construction work is planned to take 36 months to complete and the new link will improve transport connections between the two countries as the existing bridge is no longer able to cope with demand. The contractor for the project is the joint venture alliance Construbase-Cidade-Paulitex. When originally planned the bridge was expected to cost in the region of US$71.3 million, however more recent updates as to the pricetag have not as ye

A budget of US$8.97 billion has been set as the limit on borrowing for India’s highways development programme for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The financing agreement has been made by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), acting through the country’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This substantial budget comes in spite of fewer projects being awarded as well as less financing having been secured during 2016. In the April to October 2016 the NHAI awarded contracts for 2,330km of highways.

A study produced by the United Nations reveals the high risk of motorcycling in India. In 2015 the country had 36,800 motorcyclists killed on its roads, with a further 93,400 being injured. However the UN’s study reveals that the fatality rate for India’s motorcyclists could be cut by as much as 42%, if helmet wearing was mandatory. Compulsory helmet use by India’s motorcycle riders would save around 15,000 needless deaths/year, while cutting serious head injuries by around 69%. The UN Motorcycle Helmet Stu

The New Zigana Tunnel project in Turkey is currently under construction and is expected to cost up to US$1 billion in all. When complete this tunnel will measure an impressive 14.5km long. The two lane tunnel will connect Gumushane and Trabzon in the country’s north east, and will be located at an altitude of over 1,200m above sea level. The construction of the tunnel will replace the existing route over the Zigana Pass, which reaches an altitude above sea level of 2,032m. Once complete the new tunnel under

The tender process for a key road project is commencing in Malaysia. The tender is for building the KPC Port Link Road as well as a number of other associated works, which will be carried out in Bandar Pelabuhan Kuantan, Pahang. The project will form part of plans being set out by Malaysia’s East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC). This new road link will imrpove connectivity to the port, allowing for more efficient transportation of goods by road, to and from the facility. To be considered

The tender process for four major toll road projects in Indonesia will commence during 2017. The Indonesian Government is partnering with the World Bank to handle the four projects. The new Bali toll road will improve transport links in Bali, while the construction of the Tegal-Cilacap toll road will provided a much-needed new link in Central Java. Also being planned are the Jogya-Bawen toll road and the Sukabumi-Ciranjang-Padalarang toll road. Indonesia’s Toll Road Regulatory Agency is working on costings

Financing has been secured for a project to help reduce chronic congestion in Angola’s capital, Luanda. The project calls for the upgrade of Corimba Boulevard. Netherlands-based bank ING will deliver the key portion of financing, US$483.4 million, for the project, which will be used for dredging works as well as reclaiming land along the coast. This portion of the project is being handled by the firms Urbeinvest Projectos Imobiliarios and Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors. Meanwhile the road construc

A series of infrastructure upgrades are planned for Nepal that will help improve its economic development. A key infrastructure requirement for Nepal is the development of its road network. In a move to tackle the issue, Nepal’s Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has initiated the strategy for the development of roads in all 75 districts by 2022. About US$7.5 billion has been estimated as being required for the completion of this project. Funding will require financing from internal sources

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has revealed a strong financial performance during the first half of 2016. Profits for the engineering firm reached US$792.754 million (900 billion South Korean Won) for the first half of 2016. The second quarter for the April-June period was healthy, with HHI achieving $8.68142 billion (9.8627 trillion Won) in sales, while operating income stood at $490.504 million (557.2 billion Won). Meanwhile accumulated sales hit $$17.7306 billion (20.1355 trillion Won) and operating pro

Algeria is setting up a process to monitor potential landslides that could damage infrastructure. The move follows a recent landslide that resulted in a stretch of the Ben Aknoun to Zéralda highway being closed for 36 hours due to severe damage. A landslide resulted in a 6m wide collapse, with 5 cars being caught up in the incident and 14 people being injured and having to be taken to hospital. Algeria’s Ministry of Transport and Public Works is introducing the new scheme.