News

Fifty local councils in England saw more than a ten per cent increase in killed and seriously injured (KSI) crash rates between 2010 and 2011, according to an Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM) analysis of the new road accident figures. The biggest increases in KSI numbers were in St Helens – 62 per cent, Portsmouth – 57 per cent, Stoke on Trent – 57 per cent, and Coventry – 51 per cent. A further 76 councils saw increases in the KSI rate above the national average of two per cent.

The UK Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) has appointed Dr Howard Robinson as its new chief executive, taking over the role from retiring consultant director John Baxter. Dr Robinson, a well-known figure in the highway surfacing sector, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the RSTA having spent 25 years in the aggregates, asphalt and bitumen industries, with a number of blue chip companies, at senior management level. He was previously technical director at Wimpey Minerals and more recentl

Following the adoption yesterday of the European Commission's proposals to reduce CO2 emissions from cars and vans, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) says it will now work with its members to conduct a full analysis of how the proposed targets should be reached as well as their feasibility, and what this means in practice for the industry as a whole. The auto industry shares concerns about global warming and is contributing actively to find sustainable solutions. In 2011, the average

A series of key road and highway projects will boost China’s network. A series of rural roads will be constructed in Tibet autonomous region, with the investment totalling some US$1.9 billion. The plan is to build a total of 24,157km of rural roads and the investment will be made from 2012-2013. Meanwhile work is also commencing on a new highway in Fujian Province. The 74km southeast section of the Fuzhou Raocheng highway is expected to cost $1.98 billion to construct. An agreement over the project has been

The newly-opened High Orchard Bridge in Gloucester, south-west England, links the city's inner relief road to the new south-west bypass and provides access to the massive Gloucester Quays €293.5 million redevelopment scheme. The lift bridge structure was designed and constructed under a joint venture involving English Partnerships, British Waterways and developer Peel Holdings. The €11.74 million structure is a contemporary single-span bridge, with an efficient electro-hydraulic movable, 300tonne lifting d

A major road building programme is expected in Peru in due course. The country’s Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) in Peru is planning 12 road concessions that will extend some 4,740km. These concessions will be worth in excess of US$3 billion in the period up to 2016. Peru’s Government wants to continue progress made so far in improving connectivity in the country and also with its neighbours.

Major cost reductions are being seen on some key highway projects in Russia including the new ring road project in St Petersburg, where the reduction is US$192.31 million. The management of the ring road in St Petersburg has signed an agreement with the main contractors (Flora, the corporation Inzhtransstroy) to cut costs by 12-17.6% in 2009-2010. The 12% reduction is equivalent to US$32.05 million and will apply to contractors that are to complete facilities in 2009. Meanwhile the 17.6% cut is for work pla

A very different road safety picture is emerging in two European nations, France and Germany. In France, the road fatality rate fell 4.7% for the month of June 2012, compared with the same period in the previous year. Some 320 people were killed on French roads in June 2012. In May 2012, the road death rate in France was only 0.9% lower than for the same period in the previous year. But in April 2012 the road death rate dropped 22.2% compared with 2011, 9% in March and 25.3% in February.

Tunnel workers have now connected the two bores for the new highway linking Albania with Kosovo. The 5.6km tunnel forms part of the Rreshen-Kalimash highway, which has so far cost Albania in excess of €1 billion.

Port connections and infrastructure will be improved in the Chinese city of Yichang, following completion of a series of projects now underway. The work is costing US$331 million and includes building six new roads and four new ports. The key road projects include the Houhe-Jietou tourist route and the Yafan-Baiyang road. The port projects include the expansion of Yichang passenger port and the first phase Baiyang industrial area port. The work is expected to improve the city’s infrastructure and boost its

In Spain the authorities in the Castilla y Leon region are planning to invest €1.21 billion in the construction of 15 highways up until 2020. As part of the project, procedures for building six of the highways should be put in place before the end of 2009. Some €104 million will be invested in 41km Leon-La Baneza highway; €142 million will be spent on two further motorways between Palencia and Paredes de Nava, and Palencia and Carrion de los Condes; a further project includes the last stretch of Segovia's r

Liebherr Group said an increase in trade with emergent markets fuelled an overall Group turnover rise of 9.8% to €8.33billion in 2011. And a Group spokesperson said they expect a further 10% turnover rise for the leading German construction machine manufacturer in 2012. Turnover from construction machinery and mining equipment recorded an above-average increase of 13.5 % in 2011, generating revenues of €5.38billion.

The National Road Infrastructure Agency (NRIA) in Bulgaria is to benefit from funding worth €255.7 million, which is being provided by the EU's operational programme for regional development. The money will be used for upgrades to 660km of second and third category roads. In addition, work on Bulgaria's Lyulin motorway is running to schedule and should be completed in 2012 as planned. The work is being financed by the EU and the first 5km stretch of the road is scheduled to open about now.