News

Better use of peak-time lanes is said to be among the reasons why motorway congestion in the Netherlands fell by 5.6% in the first four months of 2013. Dutch Infrastructure Minister Melanie Schultz van Haegen said that the reduction in congestion is also partly due to a 0.5% decrease in distance travelled, as well as the targeting of known congestion zones. However, another European country, Switzerland, has seen another increase in the amount of time spent in traffic jams in Switzerland in 2012. In 2012 19

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution for a strategy in electronic tolling and a vignette system on light private vehicles in Europe. The European Association for tolled motorways, bridges and tunnels (ASECAP) has responded to this resolution, welcoming the European Parliament’s recognition of the user pays and polluter pays principles as key priorities for European transport. However, ASECAP has provided a note of caution in that the resolution fails to address problems that may hinder the deplo

A new in-depth study carried out by Newcastle University highlights the low environmental impact of electric vehicles. The study included a wide array of factors and shows that electric vehicles are responsible for 85grammes CO2 /km, some 55grammes CO2 /km less than new petrol driven cars. The study also revealed that electric vehicles are suitable for the majority of daily car journeys. Previous concerns have focussed on the short range of electric vehicles, suggesting that this could impact on distances t

The US Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is warning equipment users that new, low sulphur fuels feature a greater risk of ignition by static electricity ignition. These ultra-low sulphur diesel (ULSD) fuels are required for use with the latest generation low emission diesel engines designed to meet Tier 4 Interim/Stage IIIB emission requirements. With this in mind, the AEM is now providing a new best practices guidance bulletin. This publication highlights the fact that removing sulphur and other

Trimble has acquired Actronic Holdings Limited (Actronic Technologies) of Auckland, New Zealand in order to extend its Connected Site portfolio. Actronic Technologies is a leading provider of weighing technology and payload information systems for construction, aggregates, mining and waste markets. The firm produces the industry renowned LOADRITE weighing system for wheeled loaders, excavators, conveyors and waste collection vehicles. LOADRITE systems provide equipment operators, site foremen and project ma

A German team has developed a new long-life lithium ion battery suitable for use in electric vehicles. Criticisms of existing electric vehicles have highlighted factors such as the need to replace batteries during the life of the vehicle, at substantial cost to the owner. However this new technology is said to be able to deliver 85% of the original battery performance even after being charged 10,000 times, or around 27 years. This development suggests that the batteries could even outlast the vehicles being

A study by the RAC Foundation in the UK has raised doubts about the usefulness of speed cameras. The research has prompted the RAC Foundation to write to seven local authorities about 21 camera sites where there has been a noticeable increase in the number of accidents since the installation of speed cameras. The study based on speed camera data going back to 1990 identified nine risky camera sites in Merseyside, north-west England and three in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent, both in central England.

Authorities in the Bashkortostan Republic (Volga) in western Russia have approved a strategy that could see investments of between US$7.77 billion (RUB 249.7bn) and US$19.04 billion (RUB 612.2bn) to develop and improve regional and inter-municipal public roads by 2030.

A Mexican contractor is now carrying out construction work on a new 8km road tunnel in the country’s Guerrero State. The project is expected to cost some US$272.6 million. The work is being carried out by the contractor ICA. The project will help improve connectivity for Acapulco. The country is pushing through a series of major infrastructure works in order to improve connectivity. Mexico’s vehicle population is also growing fast, reflecting the country’s economic development. The country’s capital, Mexico

The tender process will open shortly in Bangladesh for the construction of the new Padma Bridge project. The project is expected to be worth in the order of US$ 1.18 billion. The tender process will open on 30th June 2013 and this will be the country’s biggest infrastructure project. Meanwhile the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will supply a series of loans worth $198 million to Bangladesh, which will be used to upgrade two ports and an existing highway link. The South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (

Japan is providing funding for infrastructure works in Tanzania. A grant from Japan will fund the construction of the Tazara flyover. Work on the project is expected to begin in July-December 2013. Meanwhile the Japanese Government is also funding a road project close to capital Dar-es-Salaam. This project comprises construction of a new dual-lane bridge in Gerezani as well as widening a 1.3km section of road that lies between the of Kilwa and Kamata intersections. The road will become a dual carriageway. I

Interest is said to be strong for the Pacífico 1, Pacífico 2 and Pacífico 3 highway concession projects in Colombia. At present the country’s national infrastructure agency, ANI, has 56 expressions of interest for the three highway concessions in Antioquia Department. The projects feature a total estimated investment of US$2.16 billion.