News

According to a study released at a spinal research conference, the spinal disks in the human body are able to protect themselves. This is of particular importance to the off-highway equipment sector, where there is debate over the long term effects of operating heavy equipment. Seat specialist Grammer and the European Spine Journal sponsored the award scheme, won by a research group headed by Dr Christopher A Sharp and also including professor Sally Roberts, Dr Helena Evans and Dr Sharon J Brown.

Work on El Salvador's Carretera Longitudinal del Norte (CLN) highway will now include additional sections. This has been made possible due to cost savings made in previous tenders. A seventh section of the highway will now be built between Corinto en Morazan, Lislique and Anamoros, in the department of La Union.

In Costa Rica delays have hit the channelling of a loan provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) for infrastructure projects. The US$300 million loan granted from the IADB has yet to be invested into infrastructure projects. Some of the key works planned originally include new roads and bridges

The Chinese Government is boosting economic development in the Tibet autonomous region by commencing 781 rural road projects during its 11th five-year plan. This will see some 14,740km of rural road being constructed in Tibet. In all the rural road work is costing US$686 million, with the aim of increasing transport and trade.

The authorities in China's Shaanxi Province are working on a rural road improvement programme that will see existing links to outlying areas being upgraded and new transport connections being introduced. Some US$601 million has been budgeted for the work during 2010, with surfacing work being a key priority. In all Shaanxi Province aims to upgrade 10,000km of rural roads that connect to small communities and will also improve roads in the villages.

In Chile the Colombian highway operator ISA will carry out comprehensive repairs to Ruta 5 before the end of 2010. The company has been criticised by Chile’s Ministry for Public Works (MOP) for constant delays to road repair works following February's earthquake. The MOP threatened ISA with legal action, which prompted the new repair schedule being announced. Meanwhile work is commencing on the construction of 200km of highway near the northern city of Antofagasta in a project worth around US$320 million. T

The Indian Government is providing assistance for road construction work in neighbouring Nepal. This assistance is for building the Kulekhani – Kathmandu road section, which will be widened and upgraded with an asphalt surface. The road will be widened to 7.5m and the work is being carried out by Indian Contractor Golden Goods. Meanwhile asphalt surfacing work is has now been completed on Nepal’s Hetauda-Bhimphedi-Kulekhani-Pharphing-Chaimale road Section. Surfacing work is in hand on the remaining 21km sec

A joint venture formed by SNC Lavalin and Cintra Infrastructure will handle the contract to extend Highway 407 in Canada. This US$974.4 million (C$1 billion) deal was awarded by the authorities in Ontario to a joint-venture called the 407 East Development Group General Partnership and is a partnership between Spanish firm Cintra (a subsidiary of Ferrovial) and Canadian company SNC-Lavalin of Canada. The partnership will build, design and maintain Phase 1 of the new Highway 407 East. The construction work is

Qatar plans to spend some US$20 billion on building new roads over a five year period. The country’s infrastructure plans also include $11 billion of investment in a new airport and a $1 billion connection from the new airport to mega projects in Doha's northern region, as well as a new deepwater seaport and a new rail network.

South Korean firm Hyundai Engineering and Construction looks to have won the deal to build a massive causeway project in Kuwait. The firm offered a bid of US$2.6 billion. The causeway will be named after the late emir Shaikh Jaber al-Ahmad al Sabah. This 25km causeway will connect Kuwait’s northern Subbiya area with Kuwait City.

An impressive budget worth US$576 million has been set in Saudi Arabia for contracts to build 850km of new road and bridges. The budget was announced by the Transport Ministry of Saudi Arabia and the plan includes new roads in Baha and a deal to build the Haqv-Raith-Jella Al-Hayya road. Abdullah Al-Khodary's Sons will build the Najran-Sharourah-Wadia road while Abdul Aali Al-Ajmi will build the Jeddah-Jazan Road. Al Oyuni Investment & Contracting will build 95km of roads at Jizan while Omair Trading & Contr