News

The Moroccan Government is opening up the tender process for studies on a major motorway project in the country.

A major programme of repairs and rebuilding is being carried out on Russian roads in the country’s North-Western Federal District during 2014. In all close to US$144 million is being spent in a programme of works with upgrading 258 separate infrastructure projects. The work is being carried out on 293km of public roads in all, while work is planned on a further 400km of roads during 2015.

Plans are moving ahead in Bangladesh for a series of new elevated expressways that will be constructed in capital Dhaka. Chinese contractor China Railway Construction Corporation and Ital-Thai Development Corporation have signed an agreement that will see the two firms working jointly on the expressway project. A budget of US$172.55 million has been set for the work. The expressways are being elevated so as to minimise risks from flooding and also so as to minimise the amount of land required for their cons

A new bridge is planned for the Scottish city of Aberdeen, centre of the country’s oil industry. Continued growth in the city from the oil industry is fuelling an increase in vehicle numbers, with congestion a serious problem. As a result, Aberdeen City Council has given a contract to Balfour Beatty to construct the Third Don Crossing at a cost of some €17.6 million (£14.3 million). The two existing crossings to the north of the city centre suffer heavy congestion at peak periods at present and this new bri

Work on a 108km road connecting Irba Moda with Wadera in Ethiopia has now been completed. This upgraded road now features an asphalt surface along its length. The work was carried out by Turkish contractor Ahmet Aydeniz Construction Company. The contractor is now hopeful of winning further tenders in Ethiopia, which has a major infrastructure investment programme underway at present.

A major extension of Slovakia’s motorway network is underway, although spending in 2015 will be lower than in 2014. The Slovakian National Motorway Company is using a combination of both EU and state funds to invest in motorway construction during 2015. Some €518.5 million will be invested, although this is around 16% lower than the budget agreed for 2014. The EU Operational Programme Integrated Infrastructure (OPII) source will provide €80.6 million, while €14.22 million will come from the state budget. T

A major extension of Slovakia’s motorway network is underway, although spending in 2015 will be lower than in 2014. The Slovakian National Motorway Company is using a combination of both EU and state funds to invest in motorway construction during 2015. Some €518.5 million will be invested, although this is around 16% lower than the budget agreed for 2014. The EU Operational Programme Integrated Infrastructure (OPII) source will provide €80.6 million, while €14.22 million will come from the state budget. T

Construction work is now underway on a major highway link in Mexico. The new highway will connect Atizapan with Atlacomulco. The work is costing close to US$447 million and completion of the project will help reduce congestion along the existing route while boosting safety and cutting travel times. Once the work is complete, the journey time will be reduced from the present two hours to just 45 minutes.

In the Czech Republic the new Frydek-Mistek bypass project is being planned. The tender process for the work is expected to commence in early 2015. The project has received the necessary approvals, which is now allowing the tender process to get underway. The work is being planned by the Czech road management company RSD and is expected to cost in the region of €136.4 million. The project bypass will feature some 22 bridges and the work is expected to be complete by 2018.

The tender process is opening for new road connections in Poland. Ring roads are planned around the Polish city of Radom as well as the town of Gora Kalwarii while there are plans for a new dual carriageway section of the S8 between Radziejowice and Paszko. In all the work is expected to cost€716.5 million. The tender process has been called by the Polish road administration, GDDKiA. The Radom bypass will be some 25km long while a21km stretch of the S8 will be upgraded to dual carriageway status, with this

In Greece the Infrastructure Ministry has announced that work on a number of public works projects will be complete by December 2014. Two sections of the Maliakos Gulf pass are due for completion, an additional 23km extension as well as a 14.5km link connecting the Kozani junction with the Niki border crossing. Work is also due for completion on the 390m Tsakona bridge and the 2km road between Goritsa and Agria. Other work underway includes a 10km road in northern Crete and new junction at Valestino. Other

In Greece the Infrastructure Ministry has announced that work on a number of public works projects will be complete by December 2014. Two sections of the Maliakos Gulf pass are due for completion, an additional 23km extension as well as a 14.5km link connecting the Kozani junction with the Niki border crossing. Work is also due for completion on the 390m Tsakona bridge and the 2km road between Goritsa and Agria. Other work underway includes a 10km road in northern Crete and new junction at Valestino. Other

In Ohio the authorities have set a budget worth US$120 million to improve bridges. The funding is being made available to local governments. The state’s Local Bridge Partnership Program is adding 10 additional bridges to a program that is already improving or replacing 220 bridges in local communities across the state. The first bridge rebuilt as part of the new programme has opened in Meigs County. The bridge lies on Tornado Road (or County Road 124) and crosses the Yellowbush Creek just outside of Rutland

The fatality rate on Germany’s road network increased in the first half of 2014, compared with the same period last year. The preliminary figures from Germany's Federal Statistics Office, Destatis, show an increase in road deaths of 9.5% to 1,576 for the first six months of 2014. The level of injuries also rose by 10.6% to around 185,600 while the number of crashes in which people were injured rose 11.4% to 144,600. Overall however, the number of crashes dropped by 1.2% to 1.15 million. The reason for the i