News

Austrian construction company Strabag SE has issued a US$131.8million (€100million) corporate bond. The fixed-interest bond has a term to maturity of seven years and a coupon of 4.25 % per annum. A Strabag spokesperson said the bond issue had already been met with great interest among institutional investors. It is also available for subscription to Austrian, German and Luxembourgian private investors until 8 May, 2012. With a face value of US$1,318 (€1,000), the bond is targeted not only at institutional

The state Government in New South Wales (NSW), Australia is making a major investment designed to boost road safety. Some US$156 million (A$170 million) is being set aside.

Manitou Group president Jean-Christophe Giroux said 2012 would be the year of “Refoundation” for the Group after it recorded a 19% rise in revenue in the first quarter of the year to US$416.6million (€316million). Growing revenue, sustained order intake and high backlog had, said Giroux, given Manitou a great platform for the coming year and beyond. “Things are undoubtedly getting more and more difficult in Southern Europe but Northern Europe, the US, and Asia are showing resilient signs for positive busine

The first INTERMAT Middle East, the international exhibition for machinery, materials and equipment for construction and infrastructure, has been held in Abu Dhabi.

New research in Spain that explored solutions to reducing traffic noise suggests that the best option is to combine global measures, such as speed restrictions, and local measures, such as noise screens.

Telvent GIT has been awarded a project to develop the smart mobility management system in the city of Quito, in Ecuador. This ambitious project, headed up by EPMMOP (the Metropolitan Public Mobility and Public Works Company) is intended to solve the traffic problems facing the two million citizens in Quito’s metropolitan area each day.

Major repairs are required to roads and bridges in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro State following the recent spate of flooding. In all 185 bridges and five roads will have to be repaired or rebuilt, with the work expected to cost in the region of US$237.6 million. Severe weather conditions caused the flooding, which was particularly heavy in in the hilly regions of Nova Friburgo, Teresopolis, Sumidouro, Petropolis, Bom Jardim, Sao Jose do Vale do Rio Preto and Areal.

South Africa's Transport Ministry has set out plans for a new road improvement programme. Called S'Hambe Sonke the US$3.04 billion programme will run for three years and tackle improvements to secondary roads. Filling potholes will be the priority of the plan, which is intended to employ up to 70,000 people during 2011 and help provide work. Labour intensive construction methods will be used according to the Transport Ministry, which means that many of the repairs will use traditional techniques rather than

Investigations are in hand in Costa Rica over a series of faults on the highway linking capital San Jose with Caldera. The US$230 million highway has suffered surface cracking in certain stretches, while a number of landslides have also occurred along the route that have required clearing and for repairs to be made. Costa Rica's authorities are investigating Autopistas del Sol following allegations of corruption with regard to the San Jose to Caldera highway project. The investigations are looking at the co

Caterpillar is introducing a revised line-up of 20-24 tonne E Series crawler excavators at Intermat 2012. The 320E, 323E and the reduced radius 320E RR adopt the EU Stage IIIB Cat C6.6 ACERTTM engine, providing reduced emissions and fuel consumption savings of up to 11% compared to other D Series models. A wider range of cab seating, including heating and cooling options, comes with the new E Series crawler excavators. Time delay lighting, additional safety handrails and improved serviceability are also sai