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The Chilean authorities have awarded the project to build the Chacao crossing to a consortium comprising OAS, Hyundai, Systra and Aas-Jakobsen. The winning bid was for US$680.4 million. When the contracting consortium completes construction of Chile’s Chacao Channel crossing it will connect Chiloe Island to Chile’s mainland. The project has been halted and delayed a number of times over the years but this move will see the work going ahead at last, with construction expected to take some 79 months.

Chinese firms are to carry out three major road projects in Tanzania. The projects were awarded by the Tanzanian Government and are worth close to US$160 million in all. The companies are China Railway Seventh Group Company, Sichuan Road and Bridge (Group) Corporation and China Henan International Cooperation Company. The projects include the 65.5km road connecting Mangaka and Mtambaswala, as well as the 88km road from Mela to Bonga and the 99.35km road from Mayamaya to Mela. The work is due for completion

Further delays are adding to the sorry tale of woe surrounding the construction of the Blanka Tunnel project in the Czech Republic. The tunnel was supposed to improve connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in Czech capital Prague. However following a series of disagreements over the work being carried out as well as the spiralling cost, financing, legal problems and various technical issues, the construction of the tunnel has finally ground to a halt. Czech construction firm Metrostav has said that it w

Talks have been held in Beijing between Chinese companies and Argentina's Finance and Federal Planning Ministry. Argentina Is keen for Chinese firms to be involved in 15 infrastructure projects worth a total of US$19 billion planned for the South American country. One of the key projects that has been under discussion is that of the Agua Negra Tunnel, which will connect Argentina and Chile through the Andes Mountains. China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) is one of several companies inter

The 2014 outlook for U.S. toll roads, airports, and ports is stable despite tepid growth, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. “The growing use of Public Private Partnership, or P3, transactions to construct new or expand existing projects is largely motivated by limited resources at the state and local level, combined with uncertainty on future federal funding levels,” said Scott Zuchorski, director in Global Infrastructure and Project Finance at Fitch Ratings. “While not a panacea for all funding is

Turnkey contracts, including major transport projects, worth US$4.51 billion (EUR 3.28bn) have been signed under the current government administration in Panama since its election in 2009, it has been reported. The value of the turnkey contracts signed during President Ricardo Martinelli’s time as head of state includes US$1.09 billion allocated to five contracts to widen a 185km road section between Santiago de Veraguas and David to four lanes. The most expensive contract, worth US$ 1.64 billion, is for a

New data from the World Health Organisation's (WHO) 2013 global status report on road safety highlights a serious problem in Turkey. According to the WHO’s research, road crashes result in some 8,700 deaths/year on the Turkish network. The highest health risk for those aged from 15-29 isroad crashes. The report also stated that 50% of the victims are motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians and 75% are males. Excessive speed results in 34% of traffic accidents. However, the report claims that fatal crashes c

Work is starting on a new road tunnel in Nepal. The tunnel will form part of a 58km highway route that will improve connectivity in the country from capital Kathmandu to Kulekhani and Hetauda. The Kathmandu - Kulekhani - Hetauda Tunnel (KKHT) HighwayTunnel (KKHT) Highway is a major project for Nepal and is being carried out under the PPP model. The 4.5km tunnel will feature four traffic lanes, and is being developed by the Nepal Purwardhar Bikash Company. In all, the 58km route will feature three tunnel sec

Winter driving advice is being provided by the Finnish Vaisala transport research group. According to Vaisala, the driver plays a particularly important role in safety with regard to winter conditions. Driving safely in the winter is not only about road maintenance services and the condition of the road. Driver behaviour, speed, and driving style as well as the condition of the vehicle and its tyres play an important role in ensuring a safe journey. For example, awareness of significantly longer stopping di

A new TrafficSens traffic management system will be introduced in parts of Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur from early 2014. TrafficSens traffic lights will be installed at 62 spots across the city including 12 on Jalan Ipoh, seven in Wangsa Maju, and eleven at standalone junctions. By April 2014, the new system will be integrated with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)'s existing automated management system. Using artificial intelligence, traffic will be controlled by TrafficSens based on the traffic c

A novel system in the Ecuadorian capital of Quito requiring public transport operators to share a payment fund has been joined by 80% of operators. The new system aims to reduce competition on the roads, as, prior to adoption of the payment fund approach earlier this year, different operators sought to transport as many passengers as possible, due to their income being based on the money earned from passengers on their routes each day. Under the payment fund operation, money earned enters a joint fund w

Austria's road transport industry is threatening to challenge in the European Court of Justice state-owned motorway operator Asfinag's plan to increase modern HGVs road toll by 8% in 2014. The Austrian transport ministry has ordered that toll prices should be increased by 2.5% from the beginning of January 2014, in order to adapt to inflation. But the price increase for modern HGVs, such as Euro 6 vehicles, is set to be significantly higher in order to keep the volume of toll income stable, as there are now

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers will sell more than 1,600 industrial equipment items and trucks at an unreserved public auction in Chicago, Illinois tomorrow (December 13 2013). More than 50 crawler tractors, over 15 articulated dump trucks, a selection of pipelayers, including six Caterpillar D8N and five Caterpillar D8K models, and a selection of cranes, including a 2001 Grove GMK5120 120ton 10x8x2 all terrain crane, are among the machine models up for grabs.

Chinese construction equipment manufacturing giant Sany and leading innovative lifting solution manufacturer Palfinger have finalised and signed contracts for the expansion of their mutual shareholdings. The move comes after an agreement in principle to extend their strategic partnership was reached by the two construction groups at the end of September 2013. Herbert Ortner, CEO of Palfinger, headquartered in Salzburg, Austria said, “During the past few weeks we have discussed the details of the capital i