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The Scottish Roads Partnership has been given preferred bidder status by Transport Scotland for the upgrade of the M8, M73 and M74 motorways. Work on the €484.35 million (£415 million) M8, M73 and M74 Motorway Improvements programme, which includes widening sections of each of the motorways, is scheduled to be completed by spring 2017. The Scottish Roads Partnership consortium consists of Ferrovial Agroman (Amey) and Lagan.

France-based infrastructure group Vinci has submitted a bid to construct a new section of the A 20 motorway in Germany between Bad Segeberg and Bremerhaven. The works will include a near 6.5km-long tunnel under the river Elbe between Glückstadt and Drochtersen and a section of the A 26 motorway to Hamburg. The bid by Vinci provides for a private-public-partnership model under which Vinci and the German government would share the estimated project cost of around €2 billion. According to Vinci's bid, const

The global in-vehicle systems market could triple to US$20 billion by 2020, according to leading business strategy consultants Roland Berger. In the U.S., General Motors is equipping its vehicles with GSM cards in order to offer full connectivity, allowing the driver to manage all vehicle data from a smartphone.

A 4km tunnel and the widening of the M4 motorway will be the first works on the WestConnex motorway project in Sydney, Australia. The initial works will cost between US$2.72 billion (AUD 3 billion) and $3.6 billion (AUD 4 billion). The tunnel will run from Strathfield to Ashfield and will run under the Parramatta Road. The government has pledged $1.62 billion (AUD 1.8 billion) to the project. Announced in October 2012, the completed 33km WestConnex motorway will cover the western, inner western, and sout

According to plans for Moscow road infrastructure, issued by the Department of Construction, 215km of roads, 78 artificial structures and around 150 pedestrian underpasses should be reconstructed and built in Russia’s capital by 2016. Around 87.3km of road surface will be renovated and 11 artificial structures will be built on 11 major highways. Another 30.5km of roads and eight artificial structures will open as a part of a new road network project for the development of Skolkovo innovation centre. A fu

The first superspan gantry has been installed over the M25 motorway near London, England. The structure near Junction 24 (Potters Bar, Hertfordshire) is part of the €219.92 million (£188 million) Managed Motorway scheme to upgrade the motorway between junctions 23 and 27. Weighing 36 tonnes and measuring 40m across, it is the first of five superspan gantries which will be installed during the project being carried out by Skanska Balfour Beatty, on behalf of the Highways Agency. The gantries will

Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved reconstruction deals for the five main economic arterial roads worth US$768.43 million (NGN 123.8 billion). A $92.1 million (NGN 14.99 billion) deal will see Julius Berger carry out the Apapa-Oshodi expressway section 2, phase II reconstruction has also been approved. The project is targeted for completion in 15 months. Kopek Construction has secured a $45.1 million (NGN 7.34 billion) deal to complete the Akure to Ilesha road in 21. Triacta Nigeria

All villages in Vietnam will be connected by roads that can be used by motor vehicles by 2015, according to the country’s Ministry of Transport. The key access pledge is part of a road building programme started five years ago that has so far cost US$2.23 billion (VND 47 trillion). Part of the scheme also includes the construction of roads for motorbikes and non-motorised vehicles, especially roads running through poor areas.

The Canadian city of Montreal has put road and waterworks repairs at the heart of its capital works programme for 2014-2016. The programme, covering almost US$3.62 billion (CAD 3.8 billion) in infrastructure expenditure priorities, is lower by $287.61 million (CAD 300 million) compared to the one presented in 2012. It is due, if approved, for implementation from mid-September 2013 Nearly 75% of the capital works programme is allotted for maintenance and repairs, while new developments account for the

The Chinese authorities have announced plans to construct the world’s longest undersea tunnel. Measuring a colossal 123km long, the tunnel route runs under the Bohai Sea and is intended to connect Dalian in Liaoning Province with Yantai in Shandong Province. The tunnel was first proposed in the mid-1990s when it was expected to cost in the region of US$10.3 billion to build but the project was shelved due to the enormous construction challenges it posed. However tunnelling technology has moved on and the Ch

The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) has plans to expand the country’s road network. In all 42 road construction projects will be completed during the present financial year while a further 45 new road projects will be started. The new roads will extend for a total of 20,700km. Key roads being built will connect Woliso and Ambo, Goro and Lebu and Awash and Debreberhan via Dulecha and Ankober. The programme of works is expected to cost US$1.53 billion.

Plans are in hand for a new bridge to span the Lena River near Yakutsk in Russia. The project is expected to cost US$1.95 billion. The bridge will take six years to design and construct, with the project being handled under the PPP model. Private investors will maintain the bridge over an eight year period, with payments being made by the Russian State. A number of leading companies have expressed interest in the project so far including Transstroy, Mostovik, Most, Mostotrest, and Sibmost.

Bidding is strong for a road tunnel project in Bosnia Herzogovina. The expected cost of the 902m long tunnel has not so far been revealed, however the project is being financed jointly by the European Investment Bank (EIB) as well as Bosnia’s Federal Government. The tender for the project was announced by Bosnian roads company, Cesta Federacije BiH. Bids have been received from Croatian contractors Skladgradnja, Viadukt and Hidroelektra Niskogradnja.