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In Morocco plans are being developed by The Ministry of Equipment, Transport and Logistics for two major highway projects that will improve the country’s connections with its neighbours. The tender process has been launched for a study that will investigate the routes for a motorway linking Guelmin with Guergarat, which will also help connect through to Mauritania. The tender process is also being opened for a study into a new road connection that will link the Fès-Oujda motorway in Morocco across the borde

Construction work is now commencing on the second level of the key Mexico City-Puebla highway. The project is costing some US$766.4 million, with funding being sourced jointly from federal and regional governments as well as a number of private investors. The highway is being built by a number of firms including OHL and Pinfra. The construction project is expected to require 24 months to complete.

The new Regina Bypass Project in Canada is gathering momentum, with construction due to start in mid-2015 and expected to be complete in the third quarter of 2018. The project is benefiting from US$183.63 million (C$200 million) of federal funds and includes building the 40km highway class bypass itself, a 5km section of dual carriageway between the bypass and Highway 6 and 10 overpasses. Three of the five participants in the tender process have now been shortlisted for the Request for Proposal (RFP) stage

A series of road and highway upgrades are being carried out in Algeria’s Ouargla Province. These will help boost safety and include new lighting and installing a 10km concrete median divider on the RN-3 route. A new 10km bypass is being built in the south-west of Ouargla city, which is due for completion at the end of October 2015. This new connection will improve access to the city’s suburbs, as well as cutting travel time between Ouargla, Hassi Messaoud and Ghardaïa. Ouargla has a road network spanning 2,

The organisers of the upcoming bC India exhibition in Delhi are confident the event will be successful given optimistic signs for the Indian construction market. India now has a new government following the recent elections and the economic signs are cautiously optimistic, helping confidence in the construction equipment sector. The show will be held at the India Expo Centre in Greater Noida/Delhi from December 15th – 18th 2014 and will cover some 120,000m2 of space, with around 30,000m2 in halls and 90,000

In the Philippines plans are being developed for a new bridge link connecting Samal Island to Mindanao. The project has been proposed by the local government for Davao del Norte Province. Meanwhile a series of bridge and road projects are being put forward in a bid to develop the tourist trade in the Philippines. The bridge from the Island garden city of Samal would connect with the city of Davao on Mindanao, providing a link to the Francisco Bangoy International Airport. The PPP project looks likely to cos

The authorities in Morocco are working on plans for some 1800km of new motorways. The plan calls for improved links between the south and north of the country, connecting through the centre. A study is being carried out of the plans for the new road network. This new road construction programme has been suggested by Morocco’s Ministry for Equipment, Transport and Logistics. Key routes under evaluation will connect Agadir and the south, Fès, Tangier, Marrakesh, Safi, Meknès, Nador, Guercif and Béni-Mellal. T

A new road planned in Honduras will connect San Pedro Sula with Puerto Cortes. The project cost has been estimated at US$150 million. Plans also include additional works to help reduce congestion in San Pedro Sula. Coalianza is the agency in Honduras that handles the promotion of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and has said that the tender process is due to commence in October 2014.

Climbing costs are afflicting the construction of the key Coatzacoalcos tunnel connection in Mexico. Concesionaria Tunel de Coatzacoalcos is the firm handling the construction and concession for the Coatzacoalcos immersed tunnel. The company claims that costs have climbed 150%, from US$153.23-$383.1 million. Concesionaria Tunel de Coatzacoalcos is controlled by Spanish construction firm FCC Construcciones and says that the climbing costs are caused by delays due to the climate, problems purchasing land and

Kuwaiti construction firm Mudeer Contracting Company (Mudeer) is carrying out the five-year contract to operate and maintain a 25km causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The US$44.8 million contract commences in October 2014. Mudeer’s contract also includes operating and maintaining the border control facilities between the countries. The King Fahd Causeway provides and important connection between the countries, carrying over 8 million vehicles in 2013.

In Poland the tendering process is underway for a new dual carriageway project. The project is for another stretch of the S3 dual carriageway, which will link the cities of Legnica with Bolkow. The 36km dual carriageway project will be divided into two sections and the work also includes the construction of service areas. The tenders have to be received by 19th September 2014. The dual carriageway will be of importance to Poland’s industrial output as Legnica is home to some of the country’s larger mining o

A new four lane highway is planned in Vietnam, linking the city of Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue Province. This 77km highway is due for completion by 2016. Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport of has awarded build-transfer-operate (BOT) contracts worth some US$540.5 million for the the La Son-Tuy Loan Expressway project.