News

The closure earlier this month of the Cinquantenaire and Loi tunnels in Brussels, Belgium, is said to have caused congestion problems in the city and on the Brussels ringroad. The tunnels are due to remain closed for three months to allow for the renovation and modernisation of Brussels-Schuman station.

The Italian-Slovak consortium of HANT BA DS and INC has been excluded by the Slovak national motorway company NDS from the tender for the construction of a 15.25km stretch of the Hubova-Ivachvova D1 motorway in Slovakia. Slovak company HANT BA DS has asked NDS to revaluate its decision as it claims that its offer fulfils all tender conditions. The consortium offered the lowest price of US$259.44mn (€207.50mn) excluding VAT. Italian partner INC claims that exclusion from the tender was unfounded and said it

Data from the organisers of the Hillhead quarry show in the UK reveal a 10% jump in visitor attendance. In all a total of more than 17,000 visitors attended Hillhead 2012 compared with 15,500 in 2010. One major exhibitor said that its records show that close to 3,000 people visited its booth alone. Throughout the three days of the show attendees were able to view more live demonstrations and new plant and equipment than ever before, presented by a record 459 exhibitors. Dates for Hillhead 2014 will be annou

A new report released by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) shows transportation improvement programmes are struggling in over half the US states. ARTBA’s analysis of state highway and bridge contract awards value was compiled by McGraw-Hill Analytics. This report finds that even when adjusted for inflation, the value of highway and bridge work let in 28 states and the District of Columbia over the past 12 months is less than they awarded in pre-recession 2008. “That’s a major

The authorities in China have revealed that construction of the Fuzhou section of the new Beijing–Taipei highway will commence by late May 2012. The two-way four-lane expressway will have a design speed of 100km/h. The 53km Fuzhou section is expected to cost some US$1.04 billion to construct. This section of highway will take four years to complete.

Road tolls in Bosnia are to rise by over 100%. Director of the Bosnian motorways company Autoceste FBiH, Ensad Karic, said the federal government Federal Bosnia and Herzegovina had approved the increase, effective from 13 June, 2013. Prices for personal vehicles will increase from BAM 2 to BAM 4.20 (US$2.68) on the Sarajevo-Zenica 37km motorway.

Messe München International is further expanding its international network of events to include a new trade show in India for the environmental technology sector. The first IFAT INDIA will take place from October 24 to 26, 2013 at the BCEC in Mumbai). Messe München and its subsidiary MMI India are expecting the event to attract around 100 exhibitors and 6,000 visitors, and to take up 6,000 square meters of exhibition space.

The road bypass of the Czech city of Kolin is expected to open by the end of 2012. Builders have recently stabilised subgrade in Staralka. The 8km road is worth about US$97.4million (CZK 2bn). The project was delayed by a slow progress in buying land which took four years. The city has been waiting for the bypass for more than 40 years.

More than 80km of roadways are to be renovated in the Buryat Republic, Siberia, in 2012 as a part of the regional targeted programme. The renovation works include 60.3km of regional roads and 20km of local significance roads. At the beginning of 2012 highway mileage in the republic amounted to approximately 8,300km.

A total of US$1.89billion (CNY 11.97bn) has been allocated to build 51.47km of highways across the city of Shijiazhuang in Hebei Province, China. The feasibility report for the plan was recently approved by provincial authorities.

Auction firm Ritchie Bros is handling two equipment sales simultaneously in St Aubin sur Gaillon and Avignon in France on June 26th. The sale includes selection of Wirtgen milling machines, excavators, dump trucks, asphalt pavers and rollers, as well as an array of other items. More than 1,100 heavy equipment items (and trucks) will go under the auctioneer’s hammer. The Avignon auction (currently featuring 270+ items) will be broadcasted live at the auction in St Aubin Sur Gaillon (currently featuring 850+