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The plan to build a bridge linking the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) with the Republic of the Congo has stalled once more. The road/rail bridge bridge is intended to provide a better connection between the DRC and the Republic of the Congo. The bridge would be around 4km long and the project was first proposed some years ago and the project to build the structure was restarted in 2017. However it now faces opposition in the DRC from Congo Uni/ABSL. According to this group, building the bridge would

A new bridge is planned to connect Krasnodar in Russia with the Republic of Adygea, part of the Russian Federation. The US$105.1 million project would carry two lanes of traffic in either direction. This would be an alternative to the proposed Yablonovsky Bridge, the project for which has not so far progressed beyond initial plans. Meanwhile, a new bridge has been proposed for Kaliningrad Bay. This project is expected to be worth $615.5 million, with the bridge and its new approach roads measuring around

EvoQuip is holding an open event in North America that will showcase live working demos of its crushing and screening equipment. The manufacturer is co-hosting the event with distributor Emerald Equipment in Bridgewater, New Jersey on July 25-26. Equipment on show will include the Bison 280, Cobra 230 and 230R as well as the entire Colt range. Sean Donaghy, EvoQuip USA sales manager, commented: “EvoQuip are delighted to be working with Emerald Equipment on returning to the USA for a second open even

A new computer system is said to offer huge benefits for maintaining transport infrastructure. This is the product of a world-leading computing project and is called Data and Analytics Facility for National Infrastructure, DAFNI. The project commenced in 2017 to provide world-leading research capabilities to help improve the UK’s infrastructure systems, by making them more resilient and effective. DAFNI can help ensure the UK’s infrastructure is sustainable by running detailed simulations that show a range

Singapore is opening the tender process for a major road project. The tender is for the construction and design of a section of the North South Corridor (Viaduct). This new link will connect Yishun Avenue 5 and SG Seletar. The tender process is being handled by Singapore’s Land Transport Authority. The closing date for the tender is 29th August, 2019. When fully complete in 2026, this highway will measure 21.5km in length.

A new ring road project is being planned for the city of Kemerovo, in Siberia.

New road connections will have to be built for the second Parana River crossing in Paraguay. In all around 37km of new road connections will be required, costing US$180 million. This work will also require the construction of two smaller bridges as well as an overpass section. Financing for the work is being provided via the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF).

A new bridge crossing for the Lena River is being proposed in Russia. The bridge will provide a connection between Yakutsk and Nizhny Bestyakh. The bridge is expected to cost upwards of US$900 million to build, with the project likely to be offered under a concession package. A number of consortia comprising both Russian and international firms have already shown interest in the project.

In Argentina a new loan facility for road projects is now being provided by the Banco de Inversion y Comercio Exterior (BICE). The loan facility will be worth US$100 million and will be offered for projects being handled under the PPP model and with distances of 2,500km or more. This is expected to speed up plans for various PPP projects, with some $6 billion for road concessions planned for the next four years. A number other funding sources are being developed but are yet to be finalised.

Moscow suffers the worst congestion of any city in Europe, with drivers spending an average 56% of their time being stuck in traffic. Istanbul meanwhile comes close behind, with drivers spending an additional 53% of their time being stuck in traffic. Bucharest suffers the third worst traffic congestion in Europe, with Saint Petersburg in the fourth spot. The data has been gathered by the TomTom Traffic Index, which has collated information on 403 cities around the world. By the end of April 2019, Istanbul h

The tender process for Brazil’s 364/365 highway will commence in mid-September 2019. The 437km route connects Jatai, Ituiutaba and Uberlandia in Minas Gerais State. The concession deal will be for 30 years and investment in the road is expected to be worth US$1.22 billion. The tender will be awarded to the firm offering the lowest toll rate. The national land transport agency, ANTT, is overseeing the tender process.

Lafarge Cement – part of Aggregate Industries – has launched Lafarge Endure SR; a high performance, low carbon, CEM II blend cement. While traditional CEM I blends use virgin clinker to produce the finished cement, Lafarge Endure SR blends Portland fly ash (PFA) with clinker, which results in a lower embodied CO2, as well as improved plastic and hardened properties when used in concrete. Another benefit of using Lafarge Endure SR over a CEM I blend is its suitability for all ground types. Sulphates in

The tender process will restart in 2019 for Slovakia’s Visnové Tunnel project. The tunnel forms part of the D1 highway. Work was being carried out on the tunnel and highway stretch of the D1 connecting Lietavska, Lucka, Visnové and Dubna Skala by the contractors Salini Impregilo and Duha. However following a dispute with the Slovak national motorway company NDS, these two firms are no longer working on the project. Some stretches of the highway are near complete already but the tunnel still requires some wo