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To generate savings on motorways Transport Minister, Frédéric Cuvillier, may ask the three largest operators (Vinci Autoroutes, APRR, Sanef-SAPN) to take on maintenance and renovation spending on certain sections in exchange for concession extensions. Motorways in Ile-de-France and stretches of motorways around Paris (A6, A10 and A13) could be among the first to be subject to the new maintenance and renovation arrangements. Negotiations will start with ASFA (Association des Société Françaises d'Autoroutes).

The Rubberised Asphalt Foundation (RAF) is creating an online clearinghouse for rubberised asphalt documentation and research. The online database will have various data and will be updated with latest developments in rubberised asphalt processes and technologies.

Around 10,000km of Russia’s roads will be repaired annually from 2014 according to Igor Astakhov, head of road operation and safety at the country’s Federal Highway Agency. Astakhov also said that the federal road network would fully meet quality requirements in Russia by late 2017. Currently, Russian authorities repair 6,600km per annum, around 1.5 times less than required. Only about 39% of the road network is said to be in a satisfactory condition.

Representatives from leading global construction equipment manufacturers are among those being urged to attend a summit where they can learn how to get involved in US $ 300 billion worth of infrastructure projects, including major road building works, set to take place in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Mega Infrastructure Projects Summit, being held between 16 and 18 September, 2012

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is preparing for a two-day Australian construction machinery sales bonanza. The world renowned Canadian industrial equipment auctioneers will auction off 75 wheeled loaders and 70 hydraulic excavators at unreserved public auctions in Brisbane, Queensland on September 18, and Geelong, Victoria on September 20. Nearly 1,350 pieces of equipment in total will be sold over the two auctions—with each piece being sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price—without minimum bids or rese

Plans for a new highway connecting Saudi Arabia and Egypt are now commencing. The US$3 billion highway will improve transport connections between the two countries. This 32km link will run between Nassrani in Egypt and Ras Hamid in Saudi Arabia, passing the Tiran Strait. A technical committee is holding discussions on the project shortly.

The combined half-year accounts of the merged Royal Haskoning and DHV showed profits up 9% despite the tough market conditions. Both former companies contributed equally to an operating profit (EBITA) over the first six months of 2012 at €13.9 million.

A major new expressway will link Tizi-Ouzou in Algeria to the country’s East-West highway. The local authorities have been given a budget of US$623 million for the project. The expressway will connect to the East-West highway at Bouira. The project forms part of the 2010-14 five year plan and is required as the existing route linking Tizi-Ouzou to the East-West highway, the TN 12, is now carrying more vehicles than it was designed for.

Continued improvements in road safety are being seen in Denmark. The latest official data from the Danish Road Directorate (Vejdirektoratet) reveals a continued drop in fatal accidents. In July 2012 Denmark saw four fatalities on the country’s roads, the same figure as seen in July in the previous years. This is the lowest figure since the statistics were first recorded in 1985.

The city of Hyderabad has announced an ambitious 12-month plan to install a new city-wide traffic signal system called the Hyderabad Traffic Integrated Management System (HTRIMS). The US $12 million contract, which was awarded to Bharath Electronics Limited (BEL) earlier this month, aims to upgrade traffic signals at 180 existing junctions across the busy city and bring a further 41 new junctions into the system.

The Punjab state government has approved a new national highway repair and maintenance budget of US $27 million (Rs 150 crore). Public works minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon said that the decision was taken at a “high-level” emergency meeting held earlier this month to review the way in which the Indian state is running it ongoing road construction and maintenance programme.

The number of Montreal’s bridges and tunnels in a “critical” condition has more than doubled during the past 12 months, says a shocking new report looking at the state of the city’s transport infrastructure. The new report, which came out this month, shows that 27 of the city’s 587 highway structures reached “critical condition” in 2011 compared with only 12 in 2010.