News

A major programme of highway investment is being planned in India. The country's Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved US$2.34 billion of works project to widen 676km of national highways (NHs) in Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The highways to be four-laned are the 27km Kazahakkottum-Mukkola section of the National Highway (NH) 47 in Kerala, the 95km section of the NH65 from Ambala-Kaithal in Haryana, and the 99km section of the NH 163 from Yadgiri-Warangal i

In Serbia plans are moving ahead with work on the Zezeljev Bridge. The structure will provide a new crossing over the Danube River for the city of Novi Sad. The new bridge replaces an old structure carrying both rail and road links that was destroyed by bombing in 1999. Construction of the new bridge forms part of an EU strategy for the Danube Region. The current cost of the new bridge has not been disclosed although an estimate in 2010 pegged the pricetag at some €60million. The 470m long by 25m wide struc

In Mexico work is now underway on the La Marquesa-Toluca highway. The project is costing some US$269.5 million in all. The construction is due for completion in December 2015. The work is being carried out jointly on the first stretch of the highway by Spanish contractor OHL working in partnership with local company La Peninsular.

The German automobile manufacturers BMW and Daimler are co-operating on an innovative electric vehicle charging technology. The two companies are jointly developing inductive charging technology that will be suitable for use in electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The package features two key components, with a coil mounted in the vehicle’s floor and another fitted in a base plate underneath the vehicle. This innovative inductive charging technology could be ready for series production in two to three year

The International Road Educational Foundation is now accepting applications for its IRF Fellowship Programme. The Class of 2016 will start its first Semester in Autumn 2015. Students selected for the Class of 2016 will also participate in the 10-day IRF Road Scholar Program, held in Washington, DC in January. The IRF Fellowship Program provides a graduate level scholarship to young professionals who have strong academic backgrounds, professional qualifications, leadership potential, and a commitment to retu

Research carried out by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety (Miros) reveals cause for concern with an expected increase in the annual fatality rate. The number of road crash deaths in the country currently stands at an average of 18 people/day. But that rate is expected to increase to an average of 29/day according to the research. In 2020, the annual death toll on the country’s road network is expected to hit 10,716 compared with the 6,915 deaths/year recorded in recent years. Of the total number of fat

The opening of the Blanka Tunnel in the Czech Republic will be further delayed. The tunnel will now open for traffic in April 2015 instead of October 2014, which was the most recent opening date for the link. This delay has been attributed to issues with the technology being installed in the link, although the construction work being carried out by Metrostav is now close to completion. In all, the project is costing some €1.31 billion. When the tunnel is complete it will help lower congestion levels in Czec

In the US, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA) released a key statement on HR 5021, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2014. The bill was introduced in the House by Ways and Means chairman Dave Camp (R-MI), and cosponsored by Shuster. He said, “We have an immediate, critical need to address the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund and extend the current surface transportation law. This bill does that in a responsible way with policies that have all previous

Chile’s Ministry of Public Works is investigating its options with regard to an alternative road to Route 68. The road connects capital Santiago with the country's fifth region. The new road is one of several projects listed in the road concessions packages set out by the Ministry of Public Works for 2020. An upgrade to this road link is required as Route 68 suffers heavy congestion at peak periods and particularly over long weekends or holidays. The project could cost in the region of US$200 million in all

Bolivia has a major programme of highway expansion and improvements underway at present in a plan designed to improve the country’s transport links. The programme includes 16 double-lane highways being built, costing some US$1.85 billion in all. The work is being managed by the state-run road administration company ABC. The roads will improve connections to La Paz, Oruro, Santa Cruz and Cochabamba. The road between La Paz and Oruro is 80% finished. The other projects will be finished between 2015 and 2018.

Newly available data reveals that South Korea’s road fatality rate is worryingly high. The research reveals that South Korea’s roads kill 105 people/1 million of population/year. This compares poorly with the average for nations that are members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), with 65 people/1 million of population/year being killed in road traffic crashes. Pedestrian fatalities in South Korea stand at 4.1/100,000 of population compared with the average 1.4/100,000 for n

Financing has been found for a major highway upgrade project for Pakistan. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is lending US$197 million to Pakistan’s National Highway Development Project for Balochistan. The loan will be used to upgrade the Zhob-Mughal Kot and Qila Saifullah Waghum highways. At present these highways feature just two lanes, but the improvement works will see them being widened and improved, so as to increase capacity and also upgrade safety. The wider aim of the project is to help generate ec

Plans are in hand in East Africa for a new 1,600km highway that will boost trade and transport in the region. The new road will run from the Kenyan port of Mombasa to Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. The highway will be of particular importance to landlocked Rwanda as it will provide an important new route for trade and transport. The Transport ministries of Kenya and Rwanda will work together on the project, which will also involve the transport ministry in Uganda. The six lane highway will feature sophistic