News

The European Parliament Environment Committee has voted on the proposal to amend Directive 2009/33/EU on the promotion of clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles, the so-called Clean Vehicles Directive. However all amendments calling for inclusion of construction machinery into the scope of the CVD were rejected. This is in line with argumentation and awareness-raising actions undertaken by CECE, the body representing construction equipment manufacturers in Europe.

A new route is planned to connect Kazakhstan with the neighbouring Altai Republic in Siberia. The Altai Republic intends to boost tourism in a bid to help develop its economy. During 2017, over 2 million people visited the Altai republic. Meanwhile Kazakhstan is also hoping to increase the numbers of tourists visiting the country every year, hoping to diversify its economy. At the moment the road networks of both countries are rather underdeveloped.

Two road construction contracts have been awarded in Dubai, which will improve connections for the coming Dubai Expo 2020 event. Worth a total of US$171.5 million, the work will be for the final phases of existing projects. The phase 5 deal includes building a total of 3km of roads and 2.6km of bridges while the phase 6 deal including building 8km of roads and 1.4km of bridges. The construction work also includes improving an intersection that links Emirates Road and Jebel Ali-Lehbab Road.

An innovative onsite power source utilising fuel cell technology has been developed jointly by Intelligent Energy and Taylor Construction Plant (TCP Ltd). This novel, no-emission power product meets the very strictest environmental legislation, allowing it to be used in low emission zones in urban areas or in enclosed areas such as underground quarries, tunnels or carparks where ventilation may be limited. The firms say that this off-grid hydrogen fuel cell power product is designed to meet the changing ne

Bonfiglioli and CVTCORP have signed a licensing agreement regarding transmissions. Under the terms of the deal, Bonfiglioli has an exclusive licensing agreement for Bonfiglioli to manufacture and sell CVTCORP’s patented mCVT technology for telehandlers and other equipment. These innovative high-efficiency mechanical Continuously Variable Transmissions (mCVT) suits use in the off-highway market. The cooperation between Bonfiglioli and CVTCORP will include developing a full line of transmissions based on the

A funding package has been secured that will help pay for a key road project in Nepal. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a loan worth US$180 million that will be used to help pay for widening work to an 87km stretch of the East-West Highway between Kamala and Kanchanpur. At present the route has just one lane in either direction but the upgrade will see the route being widened in a bid to boost capacity and safety, with two lanes in either direction. The project is being managed by the Nepalese

Momentum is gathering for the construction of a new elevated expressway in the city of Yangon in Myanmar. The project is expected to cost US$400 million ad the expressway will measure 27km-long. The new route will provide an improved road connection for Yangon International Airport to the city’s industrial area, Yangon Jetty and the Thilawa Special Economic Zone. It will also link with the Yangon-Mandalay highway and construction is expected to commence in 2019.

Argentina is looking at financing solutions that will help the country develop and improve its road network. The country’s Transport Ministry has been holding discussions in New York with a series of major banks and finance institutions. Many of the new highway projects projected for Argentina will be carried out under the PPP model, with a new financial framework and trust fund having been planned to pay for the works. In all the programme of works calls for 7,200km of road works to be carried out using th

Progress is being made with regard to the proposed Lower Thames Crossing project close to London.

A new road connection is being put forward for Ecuador, with the project expected to cost in the region of US$1.14 billion. The 44km connection would include a viaduct section over the Guayas River and connect the southern part of Guayaquil with Duran. The contract would require the road and viaduct to be constructed within a four year timeframe and would allow for a 40 year period to maintain the route.

Guatemala has been spending heavily on developing its road network. Work has been carried out to 10 major routes, totalling 153km. One of the important routes to have benefited from improvements is the road connecting Tulate with La Maquina. The country has set a budget of US£208.5 million for road repairs and maintenance works in 2018. A further 25 contracts will be awarded for repairs works in December 2018.

A massive growth in construction is predicted for Sub-Saharan Africa. This comes from a report by the data and analytics company, GlobalData. Its report suggests that the region’s construction industry will grow at the fastest rate of any other world region over next five years. According to its report, the region’s construction sector will grow on average by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) by 6.6% a year, from 2018 to 2022. The company’s latest report, ‘Global Construction Outlook to 2022: Q3 2018 Up

A major UK highway maintenance contract has been won by Balfour Beatty. The seven year deal is worth £103 million and was awarded by Telford and Wrekin Council for the maintenance of highways assets. The package also comes with an option to extend the contract for a further seven years. Balfour Beatty Living Places will work with the Council to maintain the Borough’s 1,002km of highways and 1,189km of footpaths, provide drainage cleansing services as well as winter gritting and reactive highways maintena

Construction work is now well underway in Australia on the Monash Freeway upgrade in Victoria State. The project has entered its second stage and is costing US$513.5 million (A$711 million. The work involves building 36km of new lanes as well as installing the latest traffic information technology for drivers. For the section from Warrigal Road to the EastLink the router will be widened to five lanes in either direction, compared with four in either direction at present. Meanwhile between Clyde Road and Car