News

The MPA (Mineral Products Association) and its members have been taking significant action on a key recommendation in the UK House of Commons Transport Committee Cycling Safety report relating to Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), published today. One of the Committee’s recommendations (16) calls on the freight industry to “create a culture of safety among HGVs” and requests “the establishment of a timetable for the development of an industry-wide code of conduct”. In support of this, MPA had already launched

The MPA (Mineral Products Association) and its members have been taking significant action on a key recommendation in the UK House of Commons Transport Committee Cycling Safety report relating to Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), published today. One of the Committee’s recommendations (16) calls on the freight industry to “create a culture of safety among HGVs” and requests “the establishment of a timetable for the development of an industry-wide code of conduct”. In support of this, MPA had already launched

In Saudi Arabia the go-ahead has been given for a new expressway that will connect Qassim with Makkah. The project is worth some US$1.2 billion and will include the construction of service facilities along the route. Details regarding the tender process or any technical features of the project have yet to be revealed.

Volvo Construction Equipment has seen sales in China fall, while its performance in the developed markets of North America and Europe has improved. The company has seen sales drop 9% for its second quarter results as improvements in North America and Europe fail to compensate for weak demand from China. The 25% improvement in North America and 11% improvement in Europe, compared to the same period in the year before, has been a cause for optimism. Net sales in the second quarter fell 9% to US$2.144 billion

The Nepalese Government has announced a major programme of transport infrastructure works for the 2014-2015 period. Road, highway and airport projects have all been prioritised. The detailed project report for the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track Road is to be completed within six months. The proposal aims to attract investors by guaranteeing a minimum number of vehicles using the tolled link. The project has been delayed due funding issues. This period will also see work being carried out the Mid-Hills Highway,

In Denmark the Ministry of Transport has presented a proposal for hearing concerning a major new bridge link. The proposed structure would cross the Roskilde Fjord south of Frederikssund, partly replacing the existing Kronprins Frederik Bridge. The project is expected to cost €281.62 million, with partial financing from the Infrastructure Fund (Infrastrukturfonden). The rest will be sourced through road tolls. The Danish Construction Association has said that the project should also include the completion o

A consortium comprising local contractor Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (Cienco 4) and Japanese company Sumitomo Mitsui will carry out construction work on Vietnam’s new Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressway. This is the first package for the first phase of works on the expressway, with this tranche expected to cost in the region of US$1.6 billion. Vietnam’s Government is providing $337 million of the funding required. Some $635 million is coming in the shape of a loan from the Japan International Co-op

A series of major road construction projects are underway in Colombia at present. The country’s national roads institute, Invias, is currently investing in excess of US$646 million on an array of road projects at the moment. One key project is for the construction of a new highway connecting Loboguerrero and Buenaventura. Another important project is for the construction of a new bridge connecting Buenaventura with Cascajal Island, which is due for completion in the second half of this year.

Mexico’s road development programme for 2014 is well on track. According to the Secretariat of Communications and Transport in (SCT), some 92% of the budget set for road projects in 2014 has already been implemented. The SCT is now moving forward with its plans for road projects in 2015. The tender process for major contracts will be opening from mid-November 2014. A budget of some US$1.92 billion is being planned for road projects in 2015, a significant increase from the $1.15 billion set for 2014. The fir

Hexagon Geosystems, a division of Hexagon AB, is acquiring French company Geodata Diffusion SAS. This deal further develops the portfolio of Hexagon Geosystems in design, measurement and visualisation technologies. With this move the company becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Hexagon. Headquartered in Arpajon, near Paris (France), Geodata Diffusion is a major provider of network RTK correction services to the surveying segment through its Orphéon network of GNSS permanent stations. The Orphéon network cov

Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman has outlined the risks to US competitiveness if the US Government proves unable to agree on both short and long term infrastructure funding issues. "American companies implement just-in-time inventory and on-demand supply chains. We produce vehicles and machines with greater fuel efficiency and lower carbon emissions. We lead the world in innovation, inventing better products and better processes," Oberhelman wrote in an article headlined "Congress must move on t

Work is now to go ahead on upgrading a key stretch of the A21 road in the UK. Contractor Balfour Beatty will handle the work to widen a stretch of the A21 between Tonbridge and Pembury and also improve the road, with it becoming a dual carriageway. The €87.55 million (£69.7 million) scheme forms part of a plan by the UK Government for a series of road improvements of €30.15 billion (£24 billion) by 2021. Advance work is expected to start in the third quarter of this year with the main construction activity