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Algeria has set a new 2015 road maintenance and upgrade budget for its highway network. The Ministry for Public Works announced it is setting aside close to US$347 million for maintenance work on the country's highways during 2015. The network is now 32,000km long, following a series of projects in recent years. The budget will include the updating of traffic signalling technologies.

Even heavy rain showers on the first day of the bauma China exhibition in Shanghai did not dissuade the crowds packing the outside exhibition areas - Mike Woof writes Those firms exhibiting at bauma China 2014 in Shanghai benefited from a strong show that attracted a record attendance of 191,000, an increase of 6% over the 2012 event. A wide array of new equipment was on show from the 3,104 firms exhibiting, an increase of 14% from 2012. There was a strong focus on technology and new engines required for

Ghana in West Africa continues to see its economy develop, due to a combination of factors, allowing more investment for roads that will further aid future growth. The Ghanaian Government has plans to invest in building new roads that will connect cocoa growing communities. This programme is being planned by the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), with some US$150 million intended for road revamping and construction purposes. The work will help with transportation of cocoa beans and aid in the development of the c

A budget of US$1.16 billion has been set for the rehabilitation of the Tamanrasset road network in Algeria. The project will focus initially on the town’s six major roads, which link the town centre to Tahaggart, Tafsit to the province's new head office, the hospital to Assihar junction, Tahagart to Mouflon, Malta to the town centre and Tahaggart to Adrian. Problems have been identified on the road leading towards the border area of In Guezzam. The cause of the problems have been traced to the use of an asp

Five new highway links are planned to be built in Sichuan, Guangxi and Guangdong Provinces. In all the projects are expected to cost some US$18.14 billion. The Barkam-Wenchuan highway in Sichuan Province will cost $4.65 billion while the Baise-Hechi highway in Guangxi Province will cost $2.55 billion. The Chaozhou Guxiang-Dongshan highway and Huaiji-Longchuan highway in Guangdong Province will cost $1.2 billion and $6.49 billion respectively. The highway connecting Liuzhou with Nanning will cost $3.25 billi

Two major new toll road projects are now in planning for Indonesia. One is for the Palembang-Indralaya toll project while the other is for the Soreang-Pasir Koja toll road. The South Sumatra provincial government believes that the Palembang-Indralaya toll road project will cost US$319.2 million, and feature a pay-back period of 18 years and 11 months. The investors in the project include the construction firms, Jasa Marga and Hutama Karya as well as the provincial government-owned Prodexim. Hutama Karya is

The Portuguese road agency Estradas de Portugal (EP) intends to invest €1.33 billion between 2015 and 2020 on the construction of new roads and on the renovation of existing ones. Some €893 million will be allocated on the construction of new roads, notably the tunnel at Marao which is costing €146 million and the €600 million IP3 road connecting Coimbra and Viseu.

In the north west of Russia, plans are in hand for a new highway project. The 80km highway is expected to cost US$172 million. The tender process is now underway and 40km of the highway is to be offered under a concession package. This section of the Syktyvkar - Naryan-Mar (the Nenets Autonomous Area, North-West) highway will be built in the Komi Republic. Construction of the highway is planned to commence in 2015, with completion expected in 2018.

Russia’s Federal Antimonopoly Service has cancelled the results of a tender for construction and maintenance of the fifth section of the central ring road in the Moscow. The FAS made the announcement following an investigation based on a complaint from Stroygazconsulting, one of Russia’s largest infrastructure construction companies. The 23-year contract was awarded to the Koltsevaya Magistral. Stroygazconsulting complained that the bids for the contract, worth nearly US$752 million, were not evaluate

In the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, drivers of electric vehicles will be offered a three-year car insurance subsidy of nearly US$1,620. The city’s Energy Saving and New Energy Car Promotion office announced the offer amid a raft of benefits for electric vehicle drivers. There will be free parking of up to two hours in the city for users of electric vehicles. Plans also are being made by the city to offer electric vehicle owners one month free access eah year to a normal car for long-distance travel

In Zimbabwe work is being planned for the road connecting the country’s second city Bulawayo with Tsholotsho. This route is of importance as it connects through to the Hwange Game Reserve and also to Victoria Falls, both of which are key tourist destinations within Zimbabwe. The route also connects with Zimbabwe’s border crossing to neighbouring Zambia at Victoria Falls. So far only 50km of this 112km route has been upgraded but the new plans will see the entire route benefiting from major improvements. Wor

Portugal is planning a series of road repair and renovation works starting in 2015. The Portuguese road agency Estradas de Portugal (EP), plans to invest €436 million between 2015 and 2019. This will be invested in renovating the basic road infrastructure for local and regional routes. The plan calls for 250 bridges and viaducts to be upgraded, with 120 improvements on local roads. The programme of work also includes 100 sites where road safety will be improved.

Cause for concern has been identified in French capital Paris, with research suggesting that as much as a third of roads in the city may be contaminated with asbestos. Studies have shown that 39% of road surfaces in Paris are contaminated by two types of asbestos, actinolite and chrysotile. The latter was incorporated into road materials used in the past. The specific danger to public health from the use of asbestos in the roads has not yet been revealed. But asbestos is known to have been widely used in co