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Chile is opening seven major infrastructure projects to tender before March 2018. The projects have a total value of US$1.99 billion in all. The tenders being planned include those for the Camino de la Fruta road project and the Ruta G-21 road project.

The preferred route has been announced for a new road and tunnel link on the A303 route in the UK that will bypass the famous Stonehenge stone circle. The project now finally looks as if it might go ahead after years of debate, although several hurdles have yet to be passed. The work calls for the construction of a new 13km dual carriageway link and includes a 2.6km stretch of tunnel. The new route will be located further away from Stonehenge and the tunnel is being built

Colombia's strong focus on infrastructure development from 2011-2017 has seen the country make vast improvements to its road network. In all the National Infrastructure Agency (ANI) has invested US$7.94 billion in the construction of 1,435km of new roads as well as over 200 new bridges. Colombia’s capital Bogota has benefited from a series of transport projects during this period. Meanwhile four highway projects will improve Bogota’s connections with the rest of the country.

Financing for a 240km toll road project that will connect Padang with Pekanbaru in Indonesia still needs to be finalised. A combination of loans from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and PPP funding is expected to pay for the project. In all the project is expected to cost US$2.63 billion, with construction work intended to start in 2018.

Strabag lands Dubrovnik Airport deal for runway work

The new Mixcoac-Insurgentes twin tube tunnel in Mexico City has now been opened officially. The link joins with the Circuito Interior highway and is untolled. Also included in the project to build the tunnel was the construction of a roundabout between Insurgentes and Mixcoac avenues. With the new tunnel open, the city authorities hope that this will help reduce the chronic congestion that occurs daily at peak periods. Construction of the tunnel has taken two years to complete.

The project to widen Managua’s Pista Juan Pablo II highway in Nicaragua has taken another step forward to commencing. Nicaragua’s Government is giving its approval for a loan to pay for the project. The US$105.4 million loan will be provided by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI). Further funding worth $136 million is being provided by the European Investment Bank (EIB), with $33.4 million coming from the Nicaragua Government.

Work is now complete on the US$76.3 million highway project providing a key link between the North and the South of Vietnam at Da Nang city. This 13km project was carried out by Spanish contractor OHL, having been awarded in 2014 by Vietnam Expressway Corporation. Financing for the work came from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Meanwhile OHL is also building a 544m viaduct over the Lanch Tray River in Vietnam that will provide a new link to the coastal city of Hai Phong.

Deutz and Liebherr have agreed a cooperation deal. This collaborative arrangement will provide Deutz the global distribution and service rights for Liebherr diesel engines in various applications and with power outputs from 200 - 620kW. Series production start-up is planned for 2019, in time for the introduction of the new EU Stage V emissions standard.

Deutz is now introducing its new Stage V compliant diesels, with lower emissions than ever before. The firm has received EU Stage V emissions standard certification for its TTCD 6.1 diesel. The new EU Stage V emission directive for mobile machinery which will apply from 2019. The German Federal Motor Transport Authority has now formally certified the Deutz TTCD 6.1 engine for Stage V compliance. The entire range of TCD engines fitted with diesel particulate filters will meet the requirements.

The tender process is ending for the tunnel project to construct a new tunnel in New Zealand. The route of the new tunnel runs through the Manawatu Gorge in Tararua District. When the tunnel is complete it will provide and improved link between the east and west at the southern end of New Zealand’s North Island.

New data released by the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that US driving topped 2.53 trillion kilometres in the first six months of 2017. This continues a streak of steadily increasing vehicle distances travelled that began in 2011.