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A major road safety issue for the UK has been highlighted by a recent study carried out jointly by the Road Safety Foundation and insurance firm AGEAS. This study has revealed that 60% of fatal crashes in the UK for the 2015-2017 period occurred on just 12.5% of the road network. Numerous studies show that rural A roads with no centre divider and just one lane in either direction have the highest rates of fatal crashes. Two roads in particular, one on the Isle of Wight and the other in Derbyshire, have part

In the wake of bridge collapses in Chile, the authorities are considering options for structural monitoring systems. A tender has been opened for an effective monitoring system that could be used to check the condition of bridges or tunnels or other civils structures. An effective monitoring technology is required as Chile’s Ministry of Public Works has revealed that 14 of the country’s bridges are in a critical condition with a further 245 requiring improvement works within the next 24 months. Three bids f

Colombia continues to develop its transport infrastructure, having set long terms plans to develop roads, bridges and tunnels, as well as rail links and airports. The country’s Ministry of Finance is budgeting over US$28.53 billion for transport development works for the 2019-2042 period. One of the key priorities is for the 4G road programme. The PPP model is being used for around 60% of the key transport development projects.

A finance package from the African Development Fund (ADF) will help pay for works on a key road project in Ghana. The US$81.7 million loan will provide con-financing for work on Ghana’s Eastern Corridor project. Measuring 695km in all, the upgraded link will follow the course of the existing N2 route and will provide a better connection from Ghana’s capital, Accra, to the north of the country. Work is due to commence on the 54km stretch of the Eastern Corridor between Jasikan and Dod Pepesu.

A new proposal has been put forward in New Zealand to cut congestion on State Highway 1. At present the Basin Reserve Roundabout suffers heavy congestion, delaying journeys for drivers.

The completion date for Colombia’s massive Cambao-Manizales 4G road project has now been announced. The improved road link should now be read for traffic in mid-2022, according to Colombia's national infrastructure agency (ANI). The financing package for the Cambao-Manizales road project should be secured in the second half of 2019 and the construction work should commence in 2020. The project is expected to cost an initial US$363 million and the work is being carried out by Alternativas Viales, which won

China is setting out its plans for increasing the use of EVs in the future. By 2030, the country’s Hainan Province will halt sales of new vehicles fuelled by either petrol or diesel. Hainan Province is also increasing the vehicle charging facilities so that by 2025, there will be one charging outlet for every two vehicles. All new government buses or passenger cars being bought for official use in Hainan Province will be clean energy vehicles from 2019. It has not been released however on the split between

Slovak contractors Vahostav-SK and TuCon will build the first stage of the 4.3km northern bypass in Presov on the R4 dual carriageway. The contract was awarded in an open tender by Slovakia’s motorway company NDS. The consortium offered the lowest price of just under €143 million against around €170 million as estimated by NDS which says work will start this summer. NDS also said that it had received five firm bids for the work which will likely take three years and nine months, for completion in 2

Slovakia’s motorway company NDS has selected a consortium led by Metrostav of the Czech Republic to build a 13.5km stretch of the R3 The cost of the R3 carriageway between Mytna and Tomasovce in the region of Lucenec will be just under €128 million. Other members of the consortium include Prague-based Hochtief CZ and Bratislava-based Hochtief SK and work should start this summer for completion in two years. NDS reported that it had received six bids for the project which went to tender in February 201

Ghana is giving official approval for a new budget to help develop the country’s road network. The plans call for US$313.5 million to be spend on carrying out 14 major road projects. In all, 381km of roads will be improved. The work will be carried out in Ghana’s Ashanti Region, Brong-Ahafo Region, Eastern Region and Northern Region.

The organisers of the SaMoTer Italian construction machinery exhibition are running a technology award during the run-up to next edition. The exhibition will be held at the Verona Exhibition Centre 21st 25th March 2020. The closing date for entries in the 23rd Innovation Award is 28th October 2019. The event now offers more categories to ensure better representativeness of the construction machinery sector. Construction companies, official representatives or importers, research institutions and bodies, un

A temporary bridge structure provided by Acrow Bridge is maintaining traffic flow for a key crossing in Vermont. The bascule bridge is allowing both vehicular and vessel traffic to pass during the reconstruction work to the North Hero-Grand Isle Drawbridge in Vermont. The US$60 million project involves replacing the historic twin leaf bascule bridge on Lake Champlain. This modular steel bascule bridge is allowing transport to continue to and from the Lake Champlain island towns of North Hero and Grand Isl