News

Chinese firm Shantui has won an order for one of its compaction units from a customer in Algeria, while developing its operations in Angola An SR32R trash compactor was shipped from Shantui’s production facility in Jining, Shina to the customer in Algeria and the unit is said to be performing well. The company claims that reliability, durability, productivity and ease of maintenance are all features of this model. Shantui has supplied five of these units to North African customers over the past 12 m

Work on a new link connecting Kenya with South Sudan will commence in 2016. The US$956 million road project will run from Lesseru in Kenya to Nakodok/Nadapal, on the border with South Sudan. The 601km road will be an important road connection running the northern part of Kenya via Lokichar, Kakuma, Lodwar to Lokichoggio. The project will also include the installation of a 600km fibre optic cable. Some $500 million of the necessary financing is being provided by the World Bank, with a further $70 million bei

Brazil’s Transport Ministry is to postpone 30 major projects due to budget cuts. The Ministry of Transport says that 30 projects that would have been launched in 2015 will now be postponed due to the reduced budget. The cut is estimated to be between 30% and 40% of the Ministry's budget, cutting up to US$2.04 billion in funding. Instead the Transport Ministry will now focus on projects that are already complete or close to being finished. However those projects considered to be of value to the national econ

Four Chinese contractors are involved in the bidding process for work on Brunei’s Temburong Bridge project. This is the second phase for the bridge project, as a local contractor, Swee, and a South Korean company, Daelim Industrial, won the tender process for the first phase of the work. There are five phases in all for the 30km Temburong Bridge project. In all the project is expected to cost some US$1.21 billion to construct. The names of all of the bidders for the second phase have not so far been release

Germany is to adhere to plans for a tunnel between Fehmarn, Germany, and Lolland, Denmark despite criticism over the cost and a delayed schedule. Denmark alone is likely to foot the €7.4 billion bill for the prestigious Fehmarn Belt Fixed Link immersed tunnel while Germany will pay for only access roads and other connections on its territory. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, said her government and transport authorities will respond to more than 3,000 objections over the construction of the tunne

In the first quarter of 2015, sales of construction equipment in the Italian market reached 1,605 units, a rise of 19% year on year. Sales of earthmoving machines were up 16% to 1,556 units and road machine sales jumped nearly 400% to 49 units. Paolo Venturi, president of Unacea, the Italian Construction Equipment Association, said the first quarter figures look promising and continue an upward trend that started last year. But there is still a long way to go because there has been an 80% loss of sales in

Reports from Nepal highlight the devastation the country has suffered due to its recent massive earthquake. Measuring an enormous 7.8 on the Richter scale, the quake has demolished many buildings in capital Kathmandu, as well as damaging roads and other infrastructure. This was followed by a series of aftershocks, one of which measured 6.7 on the Richter scale. World Highways correspondent Ram Krishna Wagle reports that with many road links to other towns severely damaged, this is hampering the relief eff

The Bolivian Government will spend some US$123 million during 2015 on a series of highway projects. The work will be carried out in the country’s eastern lowland Tarija Department, reports Business News Americas. Work commenced in 2014 on three highways in Tarija Department. These are the 66km Entre Ríos-Palos Blancos route, which is costing $83.4 million; the 45km Villamontes-Palo Marcado route costing $39 million; the 30km Río Isiri-La Central $32 million. The work is important to the country’s economy as

Work is underway on a widening and upgrade project for the RN1 national road. The improvement project will see the route becoming a section of the North-South highway. The upgrade includes adding additional lanes, effectively doubling the width of the road. The improvement works to national road RN 1 are being carried out over its 800km length and the project should be completed at the end of 2016. Also in Algeria, a legal case is ongoing regarding the East-West highway project. Allegations of corruption h

Mike Dreznes, executive vice president at the International Road Federation (IRF) discusses the proper utilisation of longitudinal barriers as a road safety priority Road authorities have a duty of care to ensure infrastructure not only meets safety requirements but provides protection for all road users. Crash barriers play an essential role in maximising safety, lowering the risk of sudden impact for road users and also allowing redirective capabilities.