News

A new study the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) in the US reveals that pedestrian deaths are increasing. The study is based on preliminary data from the State Highway Safety Offices. Following adjustments to that data for underreporting, the GHSA study estimates that pedestrian deaths increased 10% in the first half of 2015 compared with the previous year. Even without the adjustment, pedestrian deaths were still 6% greater, at 2,368 for 2015 than 2014.

A slight improvement in road safety has been identified in Oman by the police, following analysis of data. The Royal Oman Police's (ROP) statistics revealed that 675 people were killed in 6,279 road crashes in 2015. This was a notable reduction from the 816 deaths in 6,717 road crashes in 2014. The Muscat governorate had the highest number of road crashes in 2015 at 2,107 and 92 were killed while 1,186 were injured. The North Batinah governorate recorded the highest number of deaths and injured at 115 and 2

An administrative delay has been holding up the commencement of the new bypass project around Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava. The project is being handled by a joint venture team headed by Spanish contractor Cintra Infraestructuras. The project’s agreement should have been signed on 4th March 2016 by the Slovakian Government. A reason for the delay has not been revealed. The ring-road project is worth some €1.9 billion and will be constructed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) are planning to help develop infrastructure in projects in Armenia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. From now until 2021, EDB will provide US$1 billion while the ADB will provide $2 billion. In addition, the banks have signed an agreement on additional co-financing of the construction of the North - South motorway in Armenia. EDB will provide $320 million for the project.

Plans are being made for a series of major infrastructure projects in Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand in a bid to boost the transport network. To capitalise on the market potential, a consortium is being set up between Italian-Thai Development (ITD) and Chinese firms, including state-owned China Railway Engineering (CREC) and King Trillion. This partnership will invest in new infrastructure projects in Myanmar’s Dawei Special Economic Zone (DSEZ). The consortium plans to invest over US$396 million in cons

A series of major road and other infrastructure projects is planned for Pakistan. The country's Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has given clearance to six projects worth a total of US%813.33 million. The projects that have gained approval include construction, rehabilitation and improvement of the 174.14km long Kohlu-Sibi Road. It will be 6.5m wide and feature a construction with three layers of asphalt. A project has also been approved for upgrading the 64km long Mandra Chakwal

The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) is hosting an event to highlights the US Interstate system. This will be held on June 29th at the National Press Club in US capital Washington, DC. The event marks the 60th anniversary of the law that kicked-off the funding and construction of the nation’s 47,000-mile Interstate Highway System. The event will also explore what the Interstate Highway System of the future should look like to ensure that transportation in the US remains fast, ef

Indonesia is continuing with its toll road expansion programme. The construction firm Jakarta Tollroad Development (JTD) is speeding up the construction of the six toll roads in Jakarta. The projects are expected to cost in the region of US$3.16 billion. These form part of the programme to construct 47 toll new roads, with this work making up Indonesia’s National Strategic Project. JTD is sourcing funding in the form of syndicated bank loan. Bank Mandiri is supplying this loans package.

Plans are being formulated in Brazil for second phase of the country’s logistics investment programme, PIL. This looks set to include 15 road sections, 11 of which are still in the project development phase. Other sections are in the public consultation phase, or waiting to be analysed by the Brazilian authorities. The projects for the BR 476-153-282-480 sections in Parana and Santa Catarina states are ready to be put to tender. Meanwhile the BR 364-365 sections in Goias and Minas Gerais states, are current

Vietnam is working on plans for a major expansion of its expressway network. The plans call for a new network of expressways to be constructed by 2020. The programme of works calls for the construction of 21 new expressways, with a total distance of 6,411km. The new routes will connect major cities including Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Ha Noi as well linking with Vietnam’s major seaports. The new routes also will also improve connections from Vietnam’s major cities to its key border crossings, main economic

The Moroccan Ministry of Equipment, Transport and Logistics is opening the bidding process for a series of highway projects. This first round of bidding will be for the prior assessment of the construction and operation of highways that will be put to out to contract under public-private partnership (PPP) model. In all, some 618km of highways are planned, along seven different routes.