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A major new tolled expressway project is now being planned in the Philippines. The proposed NLEx-Cavitex Port Expressway Link will provide a connection between the North Luzon Expressway and Manila-Cavite Expressway. The project to build the link is expected to cost US$1.73 billion, with work being carried out in three stages of 5.7km, 4.8km and 4.6km. One of the most expensive stretches will include a tunnel section. The project is being planned by the Metro Pacific group.

European construction sales grew by 15% in 2017, according to the Annual Economic Report 2018* from the CECE - Committee for European Construction Equipment. After a very strong first quarter, growth slowed down in the second quarter, before taking off again in Q3 and Q4. Current levels of sales are on par with the levels seen in 2006 and 2008, but the industry is still 20% below the 2007 peak.

Ecuador has plans for a programme of road repairs and improvements worth US$300 million. The work planned will include repairs to stretches of roads affected by roadslides and flooding. So far $40 million of repair works have been carried out. The programme has been set out by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MTOP).

German engine maker Deutz reports a strong financial performance for 2017, with a marked increase in new orders, revenue and operating profits. With a view to the future, the firm is also positioning itself as a leader for innovative drive systems for off-highway applications. The firm’s new orders amounted to €1,556.5 million, up by 23.4% on the prior-year figure of €1,261.4 million. All of the major application segments, including the service business, registered an increase in new orders. Almost 162,000

A massive programme for infrastructure development is being planned by Côte d'Ivoire in a bid to help continue the country’s steady economic progress. The plans call for US$7.04 billion to be spent on developing infrastructure, with a strong focus on new and improved transport connections. Rural roads, trunk roads and highways are all being planned as well as new bridges. The programme includes the construction of 330km of highways as well as an improved road link with Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou

Paraguay is making progress with key public works projects as key contracts are now being awarded. Of prime importance is the contract for a stretch of the Corredor Bioceanico highway that will run across the country, which has been awarded to a consortium, Consorcio Corredor Vial Bioceanico. This 227km stretch of the bi-oceanic highway runs from Carmelo Peralta to Loma Plata and the deal was awarded by Paraguay’s Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC). The consortium is made up of the firms

Interest has been strong in the tender process for Uruguay’s Road Corridor Number 5 project.

Work is well underway on Colombia’s US$453.43 million Conexion Pacifico II highway project. The construction work for the 96.5km highway is around 33% complete at this stage. Work is also underway on the 2.5km-long twin tube Mulatos tunnel, with around 700m having been driven so far and this portion of the project is costing nearly $127 million. The new highway will reduce journey times between Colombia’s Antioquia Department and the country’s coffee producing regions, as well as to its port of Buenaventura

A series of road repair contracts are being carried out now in South Africa. Bakwena, a road construction and maintenance firm, is maintaining and upgrading road infrastructure along the 385km of the N1N4 in a deal worth US$84.6 million. Meanwhile the contractor Raubex Construction is working on a $49.22 million project for a new link between the M17 and R512 routes. In addition, Raubex Construction is carrying out $4.65 million of improvement works on the R511 interchange. Resurfacing of a stretch of the

Construction work is restarting on Melbourne’s West Gate tunnel project. Construction of the tolled tunnel link is costing US$5.2 billion (A$6.7 billion). The project is controversial and has met with considerable political opposition in Australia. Those against the link say that building a second river crossing is not necessary and that it will merely increase travel costs for drivers as it will be tolled. However those in favour of the link say that it is required due to the heavy traffic congestion. A

Amman has teamed up with an Austrian firm to develop digital construction solutions. The Austrian construction process specialist hiQ solutions and the Ammann Group’s Digital Products team have established Q Point, which will provide an independent, open digital platform for the construction industry. The new firm, Q Point, is intended to increase construction efficiency and quality, while also cutting costs. The plan is to establish an open, manufacturer-independent platform that has open standards. This